Shloka 40

धृतराष्ट्र-सत्कारः तथा श्राद्ध-दाने नियमनम् | Honoring Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Regulating Śrāddha-Gifts

Devanagari script

विपरीतकश्न मे शत्रुर्नियम्यश्न भवेन्नर: । राजा युधिष्ठिर बड़े दयालु थे। वे सदा प्रसन्न रहकर अपने भाइयों और मन्त्रियोंसे कहा करते थे कि “ये राजा धृतराष्ट्र मेरे और आपलोगोंके माननीय हैं। जो इनकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहता है

Transliteration

viparītakaśna me śatrur niyamyaśna bhaven naraḥ |

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：“凡违逆我命者，是我的仇敌；能自持克制、安住纪律者，方为真正的正人。”在此情境中，以慈悲与坚定著称的坚战王屡屡训示诸弟与群臣：当以持国王为可敬之长者而奉敬；凡顺从持国王指令者，当视为坚战王之善友；若反其道而行，必被当作敌对之人，并受惩处。

Word by Word

• {'viparīta': 'contrary, opposite, acting against (what is proper or commanded)', 'kaśna (uncertain reading)': "unclear/possibly corrupt in the provided text

• context suggests 'ācaraṇa' (conduct) or a term indicating contrary behavior", 'me': 'my', 'śatruḥ': 'enemy', 'niyamya': 'having restrained, controlling (oneself)

• from √yam with ni-', 'aśna (uncertain reading)': "unclear/possibly corrupt

• could relate to 'aśnāti' (eats) but narrative sense points to 'niyamya' as key", 'bhavet': 'may become, becomes', 'naraḥ': 'man, person', 'ājñā': 'command, order', 'daṇḍa': 'punishment, royal chastisement', 'suhṛd': 'well-wisher, friend'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• brothers of Yudhiṣṭhira (Pāṇḍavas, implied)
• ministers (mantrins, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse and its narrative frame teach that social and political harmony depends on self-restraint (niyama) and obedience to rightful, respected authority—especially honoring elders. Acting contrary to such authority is treated as hostility and invites punishment, underscoring dharma in governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs his brothers and ministers to treat King Dhṛtarāṣṭra as a venerable superior. He declares that those who follow Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s commands are his friends, while those who oppose them are his enemies and will face royal discipline.