Shloka 30

Dyūta-kathā-praśnaḥ — Inquiry into the Dice-Game Calamity

Devanagari script

भ्रातुर्ज्येष्स्य वचनं पाण्डवा: संनिशम्य तत्‌ | तमेव समवर्तन्त धर्मराजहिते रता:,अपने बड़े भाईकी वह बात सुनकर सब पाण्डव उन्हींके हितमें तत्पर हो सदा उनका ही अनुसरण करने लगे

Transliteration

bhrātur jyeṣṭhasya vacanaṃ pāṇḍavāḥ saṃniśamya tat | tameva samavartanta dharmarāja-hite ratāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：听罢长兄之言，般度五子唯独与他同心同德。为法王（坚战）之福祉而尽忠，他们继续追随他的引领，将他的利益置于自身冲动之上。

Word by Word

भ्रातुःof (their) brother

ज्येष्ठस्यof the eldest

वचनम्speech/words

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

संनिशम्यhaving heard/after listening

तत्that (statement)

तम्him

एवindeed/only

समवर्तन्तthey followed/they conformed

धर्मराजहितेin the welfare of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)

रताःdevoted/engaged

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

eldest brother (Yudhiṣṭhira/Dharmarāja)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical family order and political prudence: younger brothers uphold dharma by listening to the eldest and acting for the righteous king’s welfare, prioritizing unity and disciplined obedience over personal preference.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing their eldest brother’s counsel, the Pāṇḍavas choose to follow him consistently, showing that their actions are guided by concern for Dharmarāja’s good and by commitment to his leadership.