Shloka 16

Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 1 — The Pandavas’ Exit from Gajasāhvaya and the Citizens’ Lament (जनमेजयप्रश्नः; पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानम्)

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनो गुरुद्वेषी त्यक्ताचारसुहृज्जन: । अर्थलुब्धोडभिमानी च नीच: प्रकृतिनिर्घण:,दुर्योधन गुरुजनोंसे द्वेष रखनेवाला है। उसने सदाचार और पाण्डवों-जैसे सुहृदोंको त्याग दिया है। वह अर्थलोलुप, अभिमानी, नीच और स्वभावतः ही निष्ठुर है

Transliteration

duryodhano gurudveṣī tyaktācārasuhṛjjanaḥ | arthalubdho 'bhimānī ca nīcaḥ prakṛtinirghṛṇaḥ ||

Translation

قال فايشَمبايانا: إن دُريودَهَنَ يبغض شيوخه وكباره. لقد نبذ السلوك القويم وهجر الأصدقاء ذوي النية الحسنة مثل آل باندافا. جشِعٌ للمال، منتفخٌ بالكبر، دنيءُ الطبع، قاسٍ بفطرته—مثالٌ على كيف ينهش الحسدُ والغرورُ الدَّرْمَ (الدهرما) ويُحطّمان الروابطَ السليمة.

Word by Word

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

गुरुद्वेषीhating the elders/teachers

त्यक्ताचारसुहृज्जनःone who has abandoned good conduct and friends/kinsmen

अर्थलुब्धःgreedy for wealth

अभिमानीproud, arrogant

चand

नीचःbase, vile

प्रकृतिनिर्घृणःcruel by nature

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

guru (elders/teachers)

suhṛd-jana (well-wishing friends)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that hatred toward those worthy of reverence (gurus/elders), abandonment of right conduct, and the vices of greed and pride lead to moral degradation. Such traits sever supportive relationships and place a person firmly on the path of adharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana characterizes Duryodhana in strongly ethical terms, highlighting his hostility to elders and his rejection of good conduct and well-wishers. This description frames Duryodhana’s disposition as a key cause behind the unfolding conflict.