Shloka 8

Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka

Devanagari script

शक्ति न हापयिष्यन्ति ते काले प्रतिपूजिता: । अद्य चेयं मही कृत्स्ना दुर्योधनवशानुगा,जो लोग उसके द्वारा समय-समयपर समादृत हुए हैं, वे कभी उसकी शक्ति क्षीण नहीं होने देंगे | पार्थ! आज यह सारी पृथ्वी ग्राम, नगर, समुद्र, वन तथा खानोंसहित दुर्योधनके वशमें है। तुम्हीं हम सब लोगोंके अत्यन्त प्रिय हो। हमारे उद्धारका सारा भार तुमपर ही है

Transliteration

śaktiṁ na hāpayiṣyanti te kāle pratipūjitāḥ | adya ceyaṁ mahī kṛtsnā duryodhanavaśānugā |

Translation

尤狄施提罗说道：“凡在适当时机受他礼敬之人，决不会容许他的势力衰减。如今，这整片大地已尽归难敌所制。”

Word by Word

शक्तिम्power, strength

नnot

हापयिष्यन्तिwill cause to lose / will diminish

तेthey

कालेin time / at the proper time

प्रतिपूजिताःhonoured, duly revered

अद्यtoday, now

चand

इयम्this

महीearth

कृत्स्नाentire, whole

दुर्योधन-वश-अनुगाfollowing the control of Duryodhana / under Duryodhana's sway

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Duryodhana

mahī (the earth/kingdom)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Yudhiṣṭhira highlights a political-ethical principle: timely honour and patronage create durable loyalty, so those who have been properly respected will protect a leader’s power and prevent its decline.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the present political reality: Duryodhana’s influence is widespread because he has cultivated supporters through appropriate honours, and thus the kingdom appears firmly under his sway.