Shloka 28
Devanagari script
इदं तु न प्रवर्तेयं निन्दितं कर्म भारत
Transliteration
idaṃ tu na pravarteyaṃ ninditaṃ karma bhārata
Translation
But, O Bhārata, I would not set this in motion—this deed is censured and blameworthy.
Word by Word
idamthis
idam:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootidam
Formneuter, nominative, singular
tubut
tu:
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
pravarteyamI should engage / I would proceed
pravarteyam:
TypeVerb
Rootpra+vṛt
Formoptative (vidhi-liṅ), ātmanepada, 1st, singular
ninditamblameworthy, censured
ninditam:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootnindita
Formneuter, accusative, singular
karmaact, deed
karma:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootkarman
Formneuter, accusative, singular
bhārataO Bhārata
bhārata:
TypeNoun (vocative, patronymic)
Rootbhārata
Formmasculine, vocative, singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
Bhārata (addressee, Kuru descendant)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
One should not initiate an action that is ethically censured (nindita), even if it appears useful; dharma requires restraint from blameworthy deeds.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-and-negotiation setting before war, the speaker voices a refusal to proceed with a morally condemned course of action, framing the decision in terms of public blame and dharmic propriety.