Shloka 12

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Public Request for Consent to Enter the Forest (अनुज्ञा-प्रार्थना)

Devanagari script

ततो<नन्तरमेवात्र सर्ववर्णान्‌ महामते । अन्नपानरसौघेण प्लावयामास पार्थिव:,महामते! तदनन्तर सभी वर्णके लोगोंको भाँति-भाँतिके भोजन और पीनेयोग्य रस प्रदान करके राजाने उन सबको संतुष्ट कर दिया

Transliteration

tato 'nantaram evātra sarvavarṇān mahāmate | annapānarasaughena plāvayāmāsa pārthivaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：紧接着，噢智者，那国王立刻使各个种姓阶序之人都得丰足供给——仿佛被“淹没”一般——堆积如山的食物、饮品与清凉甘露，使众人无不称心。此段彰显王者之责：以慷慨款待与不偏不倚的抚育，普及于一切众生。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अत्र: here, in this place/context
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• सर्ववर्णान्: all the social classes (all varnas)
• सर्ववर्णान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ववर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महामते: O great-minded one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अन्नपानरसौघेण: with a flood/abundance of food, drink, and juices
• अन्नपानरसौघेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नपानरसौघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्लावयामास: caused to be flooded; inundated (i.e., satisfied abundantly)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्लु (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic Perfect), 3rd, Singular

• पार्थिवः: the king
• पार्थिवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• the king (pārthivaḥ)
• people of all varṇas (sarvavarṇāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma includes impartial generosity and the welfare of all people. By providing plentiful food and drink to everyone—without distinction—the king exemplifies ethical kingship through hospitality and care.

What is happening in the narrative?

Immediately after the preceding event, the king arranges abundant provisions—food and various drinks—for people of all social orders, satisfying the assembled community through lavish hospitality.