Shloka 15

अध्याय ६ — युधिष्ठिरस्य वैराग्य-वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनगमनाभिलाषश्च

Chapter 6: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Appeal and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Resolve for the Forest

Devanagari script

कार्य यत्नेन शत्रूणां स्वराज्यं रक्षता स्वयम्‌ । न च हिंस्यो5भ्युपगत: सामन्तो वृद्धिमिच्छता

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |

kāryaṃ yatnena śatrūṇāṃ svarājyaṃ rakṣatā svayam |

na ca hiṃsyo 'bhyupagataḥ sāmanto vṛddhim icchatā ||

Translation

持国王说道：“守护本国疆土的君王，当以警醒之力，按其法度处置诸敌；然而求自身昌盛的统治者，决不可加害那前来投奔、归顺的邻邦属君。”

Word by Word

• कार्यः: to be done / should be done
• कार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (कृ + यत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• शत्रूणाम्: of enemies
• शत्रूणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• स्वराज्यम्: one's own kingdom
• स्वराज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रक्षता: by (one) protecting
• रक्षता: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• हिंस्यः: to be harmed / to be killed
• हिंस्यः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंस्य (हिंस् + य)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्युपगतः: who has come (for refuge) / approached
• अभ्युपगतः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्युपगम् (उप + गम्, अभ्य्-उप-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सामन्तः: vassal / neighboring chief
• सामन्तः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृद्धिम्: growth, prosperity
• वृद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छता: by (one) desiring
• इच्छता: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• śatru (enemies)
• sāmanta (feudatory/neighboring chief)
• svarājya (one’s own kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches rājadharma: while a king must actively safeguard his realm against enemies, he must not harm a sāmanta who has approached in submission/refuge; protecting the surrendered is presented as a policy that also supports the ruler’s long-term prosperity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra articulates a principle of governance and ethical statecraft, contrasting necessary vigilance toward enemies with the inviolability of one who has come over seeking protection or allegiance.