Shloka 38

Kuberasaras-darśana (Bhīma beholds Kubera’s guarded lotus-lake) / कुबेरसरः-दर्शनम्

Devanagari script

वृद्ध: सम्मन्त्रय सद्धिश्व बुद्धिमद्धि: श्रुतान्वितै: । आस्थित: शास्ति दण्डेन व्यसनी परिभूयते,वेद-शास्त्रोंके विद्वान, बुद्धिमान्‌ तथा बड़े-बूढ़े श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंस सलाह करके उनका कृपापात्र बना हुआ राजा ही दण्डनीतिके द्वारा शासन कर सकता है। जो राजा दुर्व्यसनोंमें आसक्त होता है, उसका पराभव हो जाता है

Transliteration

vṛddhaiḥ sammantrya saddhiś ca buddhimadbhiḥ śrutānvitaiḥ | āsthitaḥ śāsti daṇḍena vyasanī paribhūyate ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：国王若与长者——善良而睿智、具备学识之人——共商大计，并坚定依循其教诲，便能以刑政与约束之道治理天下；然而沉溺于毁身败德之恶习的君主，终将被贬抑而遭败亡。

Word by Word

[{'term''vṛddhaiḥ', 'definition': 'with elders

with senior, experienced persons'}, {'term''sammantrya', 'definition': 'having consulted

having deliberated together'}, {'term''sadbhiḥ', 'definition': 'with the good

with virtuous people'}, {'term''buddhimadbhiḥ', 'definition': 'with the intelligent

prudent, discerning'}, {'term''śrutānvitaiḥ', 'definition': 'endowed with learning

versed in what is heard/learned (Veda, śāstra, tradition)'}, {'term''āsthitaḥ', 'definition': 'standing firm

established in (their counsel/discipline)'}, {'term''śāsti', 'definition': 'rules

disciplines'}, {'term''daṇḍena', 'definition': 'by daṇḍa—punishment, coercive authority, the rod

state discipline'}, {'term''vyasanī', 'definition': 'one addicted to vices

a man of bad habits'}, {'term''paribhūyate', 'definition': 'is overcome

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

the king (rājā)

elders (vṛddhāḥ)

the good/virtuous (santaḥ/sadbhiḥ)

daṇḍa (royal punishment/authority)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s authority (daṇḍa) becomes legitimate and effective only when grounded in counsel from virtuous, learned elders; addiction to vices destroys kingship and leads to defeat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana delivers a rājadharma maxim within the Vana Parva discourse: he contrasts the successful king who consults wise elders and governs with disciplined authority against the vice-addicted king who is inevitably overpowered and ruined.