Shloka 226

Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)

Devanagari script

दशार्णपतिना चोक्तो मन्त्रिमध्ये पुरोधसा । इस प्रकार पुरोहितने मन्सत्रियोंके बीचमें बैठे हुए राजा ट्रपदसे दशार्णऱजका कहा हुआ उपालम्भयुक्त संदेश सुनाया

Transliteration

daśārṇa-patinā cokto mantri-madhye purodhasā |

Translation

ثم إن كاهن البلاط، وهو جالس بين الوزراء، نقل إلى الملك دروبادا في مجلسه الرسالة التي نطق بها سيد دَشَارْنَة—رسالة مشوبة بالسخرية واللوم، قصد بها أن تلسع وتُذِلّ في حضرة الجمع.

Word by Word

• दशार्णपतिना: by the king/lord of the Daśārṇas
• दशार्णपतिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशार्णपति
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उक्तः: said/spoken
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (participial)

• मन्त्रि: among the ministers (in the ministerial assembly)
• मन्त्रि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पुरोधसा: by the family-priest (purohita)
• पुरोधसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोधस्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Daśārṇa (kingdom)
• Daśārṇapati (king of Daśārṇa)
• Purohita/Purodhas (royal chaplain)
• Mantrins (ministers)
• Drupada (king of Pāñcāla)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech in politics: messages delivered through official channels (like a royal chaplain in an assembly) can carry deliberate reproach, shaping honor, alliances, and conflict. It implicitly warns that humiliating communication, even when formally conveyed, can inflame rivalry and destabilize dharma in governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that the king of Daśārṇa has sent a reproachful, taunting message to King Drupada. The royal chaplain (purohita), seated among Drupada’s ministers, delivers this message in the court setting, emphasizing its public and politically charged nature.