Mahabharata
Prajāgara (039) (Dhṛtarāṣṭra's Night of Anxiety, Chapters 33–40)5.39.66-70
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Mahabharata · 5.39.66-70
Devanāgarī

न स्वप्नेन जयेन् निद्रां न कामेन स्त्रियं जयेत् ॥
नेन्धनेन जयेद् अग्निं न पानेन सुरां जयेत् ॥
यस्य दानजितं मित्रम् अमित्रा युधि निर्जिताः ॥
अन्नपानजिता दाराः सफलं तस्य जीवितम् ॥
सहस्रिणो ऽपि जीवन्ति जीवन्ति शतिनस् तथा ॥
धृतराष्ट्रं विमुञ्चेच्छां न कथं चिन् न जीव्यते ॥
यत् पृथिव्यां व्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशवः स्त्रियः ॥
नालम् एकस्य तत् सर्वम् इति पश्यन् न मुह्यति ॥
राजन् भूयो ब्रवीमि त्वां पुत्रेषु समम् आचर ॥
समता यदि ते राजन् स्वेषु पाण्डुसुतेषु च ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

na svapnena jayen nidrāṃ na kāmena striyaṃ jayet ||
nendhanena jayed agniṃ na pānena surāṃ jayet ||
yasya dānajitaṃ mitram amitrā yudhi nirjitāḥ ||
annapānajitā dārāḥ saphalaṃ tasya jīvitam ||
sahasriṇo 'pi jīvanti jīvanti śatinas tathā ||
dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ vimuñcecchāṃ na kathaṃ cin na jīvyate ||
yat pṛthivyāṃ vrīhiyavaṃ hiraṇyaṃ paśavaḥ striyaḥ ||
nālam ekasya tat sarvam iti paśyan na muhyati ||
rājan bhūyo bravīmi tvāṃ putreṣu samam ācara ||
samatā yadi te rājan sveṣu pāṇḍusuteṣu ca ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
nanot; no
स्वप्नेनsvapnenaby sleep; by slumber
जयेन्jayenlet him conquer; he should overcome
निद्रांnidrāṃsleep; drowsiness
nanot; no
कामेनkāmenaby desire; by passion
स्त्रियंstriyaṃa woman; a wife
जयेत्jayetlet him conquer; he should win over
नेन्धनेनnendhanenanot by fuel; not by adding wood
जयेद्jayedlet him conquer; he should overcome
अग्निंagniṃfire; the sacred fire
nanot; no
पानेनpānenaby drinking; by a draught
सुरांsurāṃwine; intoxicating drink
जयेत्jayetlet him conquer; he should win over
यस्यyasyawhose; of whom
दानजितंdānajitaṃwon over by gifts; gained through generosity
मित्रम्mitramfriend; ally
अमित्राamitrāenemies; foes
युधिyudhiin battle; in combat
निर्जिताःnirjitāḥare conquered; are overcome
अन्नपानजिताannapānajitāwon over by food and drink; gained through food and drink
दाराःdārāḥwives; spouses
सफलंsaphalaṃfruitful; bears fruit
तस्यtasyahis; of him
जीवितम्jīvitamlife; existence
सहस्रिणोsahasriṇothose with thousands; the wealthy with thousands
ऽपि'pieven; also
जीवन्तिjīvantilive; exist
जीवन्तिjīvantilive; exist
शतिनस्śatinasthose with hundreds; owners of hundreds
तथाtathāthus; likewise
धृतराष्ट्रंdhṛtarāṣṭraṃto Dhritarashtra; to king Dhritarashtra
विमुञ्चेच्छांvimuñcecchāṃabandon the desire; let go of the wish
nanot; no
कथंkathaṃhow; in what way
चिन्cinat all; anything
nanot; no
जीव्यतेjīvyateis lived; one may live
यत्yatthat which; whatever
पृथिव्यांpṛthivyāṃon the earth; in the world
व्रीहियवंvrīhiyavaṃrice and barley; grain of rice and barley
हिरण्यंhiraṇyaṃgold; precious metal
पशवःpaśavaḥcattle; livestock
स्त्रियःstriyaḥwomen; wives
नालम्nālamis not enough; does not suffice
एकस्यekasyafor one; for a single person
तत्tatthat; this
सर्वम्sarvamall; entirely
इतिitithus; so
पश्यन्paśyanseeing; perceiving
nanot; no
मुह्यतिmuhyatiis deluded; falls into confusion
राजन्rājanO lord; O sovereign
भूयोbhūyoagain; once more
ब्रवीमिbravīmiI say; I speak
त्वांtvāṃto you; you
पुत्रेषुputreṣutoward the sons; regarding the sons
समम्samamequally; evenly
आचरācaraact; behave
समताsamatāequality; equal treatment
यदिyadiif; when
तेtethey; those
राजन्rājanO lord; O sovereign
स्वेषुsveṣuamong your own; toward your own people
पाण्डुसुतेषुpāṇḍusuteṣutoward the sons of Pandu; among the Pandavas
caand; also
Translation

O Dhritarashtra, abandon your desire. There is no one who cannot live in one way or another. The rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women upon this earth cannot satisfy a single man. Reflecting on this, the wise never grieve over the lack of universal dominion. O king, I say to you once more: treat your children equally — that is, the sons of Pandu and your own sons.

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8b3d317d9e75 · published Jul 17, 2026, 4:02:44 AM UTC

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