Shloka 20

Parīkṣit-janma-saṃkaṭa and Kuntī’s petition to Vāsudeva (परिक्षिज्जन्मसंकटं कुन्त्याः प्रार्थना च)

Devanagari script

एतद्‌ वित्तं तदभवद्‌ यदुद्धप्रे युधिष्ठिर: । षोडशाष्टौ चतुर्विशत्सहस्रं भारलक्षणम्‌

Transliteration

etad vittaṃ tad abhavad yad uddhṛtaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | ṣoḍaśāṣṭau caturviṃśat-sahasraṃ bhāra-lakṣaṇam, dvaipāyanābhyanujñātaḥ puraskṛtya purohitam ||

Translation

毗湿摩耶那说道：尤提士提罗命人掘出之财，合计为十六俱胝、八洛叉又二万四千“婆罗”之金。既得岛生（毗耶娑）许可，又以家祭司居前引导，尤提士提罗遂继续前行——此举昭示：王者之富，唯在圣贤劝诫与祭司引领之下聚敛与施用，方为正当。

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• वित्तम्: wealth, money
• वित्तम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: was, became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यत्: which, that which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• उद्धप्रे: in/at (uncertain reading; likely a place/occasion)
• उद्धप्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धप्र (पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूप)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (uncertain), Locative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• षोडश: sixteen
• Type: Numeral
• Root: षोडश

• अष्टौ: eight
• Type: Numeral
• Root: अष्टन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• चतुर्विंशत्: twenty-four
• Type: Numeral
• Root: चतुर्विंशति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• Type: Noun/Numeral
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• भारलक्षणम्: measured in bhāra-units (as the mark/measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भारलक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• द्वैपायन: by Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• द्वैपायन: Karana
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: द्वैपायन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अभ्यनुज्ञातः: having been permitted/authorized
• Type: Participle
• Root: अभ्यनुज्ञा (धातु: ज्ञा) / अभ्यनुज्ञात (PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (PPP)

• पुरस्कृत्य: having placed in front; having led
• Type: Gerund
• Root: पुरस् + कृ (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्)

• पुरोहितम्: the priest
• पुरोहितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• purohita (royal priest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Royal wealth is portrayed as dharmically valid when it is gathered and used under the sanction of spiritual authority (Vyāsa) and in alignment with priestly guidance, emphasizing restraint, legitimacy, and accountability in kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator states the immense quantity of gold Yudhiṣṭhira had brought forth (measured in bhāras). With Vyāsa’s permission and with the royal priest placed foremost, Yudhiṣṭhira proceeds onward, marking a transition from accumulation to sanctioned action within the Aśvamedha-related events.