Shloka 4

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)

Devanagari script

ततो<ब्रवीन्महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रोडम्बिकासुत: । गान्धारीं विदुरं चैव समाभाष्यावगृह् च

Transliteration

tato 'bravīn mahātejā dhṛtarāṣṭro ḍambikāsutaḥ | gāndhārīṃ viduraṃ caiva samābhāṣyāvagṛhya ca ||

Translation

随后，威光赫赫的持国王——安比迦之子——开口说道：他同时召唤甘陀梨与毗度罗，与他们交谈，并将心中所思托付于其信任之中。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), 3, singular, parasmaipada

• महातेजाः: the very radiant/illustrious one
• महातेजाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhritarashtra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• डम्बिकासुतः: son of Dambikā
• डम्बिकासुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: डम्बिकासुत
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• गान्धारीम्: Gandhārī
• गान्धारीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धारी
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• विदुरम्: Vidura
• विदुरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदुर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• समाभाष्य: having addressed/spoken to
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + भाष्
• Form: क्त्वा-न्त (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• अवगृह्य: having taken/accepted (leave)/having greeted (lit. taken hold)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वा-न्त (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Ambikā
• Gāndhārī
• Vidura

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of seeking wise counsel and speaking deliberately in times of decline. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s act of addressing Gāndhārī and Vidura signals a movement from mere authority to reflective decision-making guided by trusted relationships.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Dhṛtarāṣṭra, described as mighty and as Ambikā’s son, begins to speak after approaching and addressing Gāndhārī and Vidura together, drawing them close as confidants—preparing for an important decision or instruction in the Ashramavāsika context.