Shloka 22

Devanagari script

पाण्डवाश्व महात्मानो दीना दुःखसमन्विता: । सत्येनातिपरीताड्डा नोदीक्षन्ते सम किंचन,इधर महात्मा पाण्डव सत्यके बन्धनसे बँधकर अत्यन्त दीन और दुःखमग्न हो गये। उन्हें कुछ भी सूझ नहीं पड़ता था

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: pāṇḍavāś ca mahātmāno dīnā duḥkha-samanvitāḥ | satyenātī-parītāḍḍā na udīkṣante samaṃ kiñcit ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The high-souled Pāṇḍavas, tightly bound by the fetters of truth and crushed by harsh compulsion, sank into utter dejection and sorrow. In that state they could discern no course of action and no remedy.

Word by Word

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

चand

महात्मानःgreat-souled (men)

दीनाःwretched, dejected

दुःख-समन्विताःendowed with sorrow, afflicted with grief

सत्येनby truth; by (the person) Satya/Satyaki (contextual)

अति-परिताडिताःexcessively harassed/tormented

नnot

उदीक्षन्तेthey look for/expect; they perceive

समम्equal; proper; fitting

किञ्चनanything at all

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

satya (truth)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a moral tension: unwavering commitment to satya (truth) and dharma can, in moments of crisis, leave the righteous feeling trapped and helpless—especially when opponents weaponize rules and virtue. Yet the ethical stance itself remains a mark of nobility (mahātman).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the aftermath of coercive events in the royal assembly, the Pāṇḍavas are portrayed as bound and constrained—emotionally and ethically—becoming deeply sorrowful and unable to see any immediate solution or path forward.