Shloka 16

Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)

Devanagari script

मूलमेवादितश्कछिन्द्यात्‌ परपक्षस्य नित्यश: । ततः सहायांस्तत्पक्षान्‌ सर्वाश्ष॒ तदनन्तरम्‌,“पहले तो सदा शत्रुपक्षके मूलका ही उच्छेद कर डाले। तत्पश्चात्‌ उसके सहायकों और शत्रुपक्षसे सम्बन्ध रखनेवाले सभी लोगोंका संहार कर दे

Transliteration

mūlam evāditaś chindyāt parapakṣasya nityaśaḥ | tataḥ sahāyāṁs tatpakṣān sarvāṁś ca tadanantaram ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “From the very outset, one should relentlessly cut off the enemy faction at its root. Thereafter, one should eliminate its supporters and all those aligned with that side.”

Word by Word

मूलम्the root, foundation

एवindeed, only

आदितःat first, from the beginning

छिन्द्यात्should cut off, should sever

परपक्षस्यof the enemy side/faction

नित्यशःalways, constantly

ततःthen, thereafter

सहायान्helpers, allies

तत्पक्षान्those belonging to that side (his faction-men)

सर्वान्all

चand

तदनन्तरम्immediately after that

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

parapakṣa (enemy faction)

sahāyāḥ (supporters/allies)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a pragmatic, severe principle of statecraft: neutralize an adversary by destroying the root of their power first, and then dismantle the supporting network. Ethically, it highlights the tension in the Mahābhārata between ideal dharma and harsh nīti employed for security and victory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is reporting a counsel framed as strategic instruction: begin by uprooting the enemy faction, then proceed to eliminate their allies and all who are connected with that side—emphasizing systematic removal of opposition and its support base.