Shloka 4

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 73 — Kr̥ṣṇa’s Appraisal of Bhīma’s Altered Temper and Reaffirmation of Martial Resolve

Devanagari script

अदीर्घदर्शी निष्टूरी क्षेप्ता क्रूरपराक्रम: । दीर्घमन्युरनेयश्व पापात्मा निकृतिप्रिय:,वह अदूरदर्शी, निषह्ठर वचन बोलनेवाला, परनिन्दक, क्रूर पराक्रमी, दीर्घकालतक क्रोधको मनमें संचित रखनेवाला, शिक्षा देने या सन्मार्गपर ले जाया जानेकी योग्यतासे रहित, पापात्मा तथा शठतासे प्रेम रखनेवाला है

Transliteration

adīrghadarśī niṣṭūrī kṣeptā krūraparākramaḥ | dīrghamanyur aneyaś ca pāpātmā nikṛtipriyaḥ ||

Translation

هو قصيرُ النظرِ في الرأي، فظٌّ في القول، ساخرٌ شاتمٌ للناس؛ شديدُ البطشِ في بأسه، يَكْنُزُ الغضبَ زمنًا طويلًا؛ لا يصلح لأن يُهذَّب أو يُقاد إلى السبيل القويم؛ آثمُ القلبِ مُحبٌّ للمكر.

Word by Word

अदीर्घदर्शीshort-sighted, lacking foresight

निष्टूरीharsh (in speech), cruel

क्षेप्ताreviler, one who abuses/derides

क्रूरपराक्रमःof cruel prowess, fiercely valorous

दीर्घमन्युःlong-wrathful, one whose anger lasts long

अनेयःnot to be led/controlled; incorrigible

चand

पापात्माsinful-souled, wicked

निकृतिप्रियःfond of deceit/treachery

Speaker

भीम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that ethical failure is often rooted in inner traits—lack of foresight, harsh speech, habitual insult, long-held anger, and love of deceit. Such dispositions make a person resistant to correction and destructive in social and political life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and assessments, Bhīma delivers a forceful denunciation of an adversary’s character, listing vices that, in his view, explain the opponent’s hostility and unfitness for righteous counsel.