Shloka 16
Drupada’s Instruction to the Purohita for the Kaurava Embassy (द्रुपदोपदेशः दूतप्रेषणम्)
Devanagari script
न च तेभ्यो भयं ते<स्ति ब्राह्मणो हासि वेदवित्
Transliteration
na ca tebhyo bhayaṁ te 'sti brāhmaṇo hāsi vedavit
Translation
Und du brauchst dich vor ihnen nicht zu fürchten; du bist ein Brahmane, ein Kenner der Veden.
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
तेभ्यःfrom them
तेभ्यः:
Apadana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, ablative, plural
भयम्fear
भयम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभय
Formneuter, nominative, singular
तेto you / for you
ते:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
Formdative, singular
अस्तिis/exists
अस्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
Formpresent, 3rd, singular
ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin
ब्राह्मणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
असिyou are
असि:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
Formpresent, 2nd, singular
वेदवित्knower of the Veda
वेदवित्:
TypeAdjective
Rootवेदविद्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
Speaker
दुपद उवाच
Characters & Entities
द
द्रुपद (Drupada)ब
ब्राह्मण (Brahmin)व
वेद (Veda)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Drupada appeals to dharma: a learned Brahmin (vedavit) is traditionally protected and should not be treated as an enemy; therefore the addressee need not fear harm from others.
In Udyoga Parva’s diplomatic preparations, Drupada speaks reassuringly to someone present, emphasizing their Brahmin status and Vedic learning as grounds for safety and respectful treatment.