Shloka 16

Kuntī’s Consolation to Draupadī and Lament for the Dispossessed Pandavas (सभा पर्व, अध्याय 70)

Devanagari script

धर्मपाशसितत्त्वेवं नाधिगच्छामि संकटम्‌ । गौरवेण विरुद्धश्न निग्रहादर्जुनस्य च,मैं धर्मके बन्धनमें बँधा हूँ, बड़े भाईके गौरवने मुझे रोक रखा है और अर्जुन भी मना कर रहा है, इसीलिये मैं इस संकटसे पार नहीं हो पाता

Transliteration

dharmapāśa-sita-tattvaṁ evaṁ nādhigacchāmi saṅkaṭam | gauraveṇa viruddhaś ca nigrahād arjunasya ca ||

Translation

Bhīmasena said: “Thus, bound fast by the fetters of dharma, I cannot find a way through this crisis. Reverence for my elder brother restrains me, and Arjuna too holds me back; therefore I am unable to overcome this peril.”

Word by Word

धर्मपाशैःby the bonds of dharma

सितःbound

इत्त्वम्this state/condition

एवम्thus

नnot

अधिगच्छामिI attain / I get over

संकटम्difficulty, crisis

गौरवेणby respect/reverence (for the elder)

विरुद्धःopposed, conflicting

अस्मिI am

निग्रहात्because of restraint/forbiddance

अर्जुनस्यof Arjuna

चand

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena

Arjuna

elder brother (Yudhiṣṭhira)

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?

Even great strength must submit to dharma and disciplined restraint; ethical bonds—respect for elders and counsel from equals—can rightly curb impulsive action in moments of provocation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma expresses frustration that he cannot act as he wishes because he is constrained by dharma: his reverence for his elder brother (Yudhiṣṭhira) and Arjuna’s restraining counsel prevent him from breaking through the present danger and humiliation.