Shloka 39
Devanagari script
बालस्य हतबन्धोश्ष पार्थ किंचिदजानत:
Transliteration
bālasya hatabandhoḥ pārtha kiñcid ajānataḥ
Translation
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Pārtha, the boy—whose kinsman and protector had been slain—was acting in ignorance, understanding only a little.”
Word by Word
बालस्यof the boy/child
बालस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootबाल
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
हतबन्धोःof (one) whose kinsman/relative has been slain
हतबन्धोः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहतबन्धु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
पार्थO Partha (Arjuna)
पार्थ:
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
किञ्चित्something; somewhat; a little
किञ्चित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकिञ्चित्
अजानतःof (one) not knowing; unknowing
अजानतः:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअजानत्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaP
Pārtha (Arjuna)B
bāla (a boy/child)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Cross References
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that a child, especially one struck by bereavement, may act without full understanding; therefore the ethically mature should respond with discernment and compassion rather than harsh judgment.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Arjuna (Pārtha), explaining that the boy involved is not fully aware—his judgment is clouded by youth and the trauma of losing a close relative or protector.