Shloka 14

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 130: Kuntī’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Daṇḍanīti

Devanagari script

न्यमीलयन्त नेत्राणि राजानस्त्रस्तचेतस: । ऋते द्रोणं च भीष्मं च विदुरं च महामतिम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |

nyamīlayanta netrāṇi rājānas trastacetasaḥ |

ṛte droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca viduraṃ ca mahāmatim ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：诸王心神惊惧，尽皆闭目——唯德罗那、毗湿摩与大心的毗度罗例外。面对圣克里希那那令人敬畏而可怖的显现，多数人不堪其视；唯有被赐予定力与神圣承受之能者，方能不移目光。此景昭示：能否直面真理而不退缩，取决于灵性之力与道德澄明，而非王者的尊位。

Word by Word

• न्यमीलयन्त: they closed (were closing)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मील् (मीलयति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• नेत्राणि: eyes
• नेत्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• त्रस्तचेतसः: with frightened minds
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस्तचेतस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ऋते: except, without
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते
• Form: true

• द्रोणम्: Droṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• भीष्मम्: Bhīṣma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• विदुरम्: Vidura
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदुर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• महामतिम्: the very wise (one)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• Droṇa
• Bhīṣma
• Vidura

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Awe before the divine exposes inner preparedness: worldly power does not guarantee the capacity to face higher truth. Those grounded in discernment and dharma (exemplified by Vidura, and the venerable elders) can endure what overwhelms others, suggesting that moral and spiritual fitness determines one’s ability to witness reality without fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

During a moment of overwhelming divine manifestation associated with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the assembled kings become terrified and shut their eyes. Only Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and Vidura are singled out as exceptions in this verse, indicating they remain able to look on while others recoil.