Shloka 12

Devanagari script

इदं चाकीर्तिजं कर्म नृशंसै: पाण्डवै: कृतम्‌

Transliteration

idaṃ cākīrtijaṃ karma nṛśaṃsaiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ kṛtam

Translation

Sañjaya said: “This too is a deed that brings disgrace—an act of ruthless cruelty—committed by the Pāṇḍavas.”

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अकीर्तिजम्: born of disgrace; disgraceful
• अकीर्तिजम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकीर्तिज
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कर्म: deed, act
• कर्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नृशंसैः: by cruel (men)
• नृशंसैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पाण्डवैः: by the Pandavas
• पाण्डवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कृतम्: done, performed
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames certain wartime actions as ethically blameworthy not only for their immediate harm but also for the lasting stain of akīrti (ill-fame). It highlights that victory pursued through nṛśaṃsatā (ruthless cruelty) is morally compromised and socially condemned.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, characterizes a recently described action as disgraceful and cruel, attributing it to the Pāṇḍavas. The line functions as a moral judgment within the war narrative, emphasizing the perceived impropriety of the act.