Shloka 49

Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)

Devanagari script

ततो महात्मा यक्षेन्द्र: प्रत्युवाचानुगामिन: । सर्वान्‌ यक्षगणांस्तात शापस्यान्तचिकीर्षया,तात! तब महात्मा यक्षराजने स्थूणाकर्णका अनुगमन करनेवाले उन समस्त यक्षोंसे उस शापका अन्त कर देनेकी इच्छासे इस प्रकार कहा--

Transliteration

tato mahātmā yakṣendraḥ pratyuvācānugāminaḥ | sarvān yakṣagaṇāṁs tāta śāpsyāntacikīrṣayā ||

Translation

Then the great-souled lord of the Yakṣas replied to those who were following him. Addressing all the companies of Yakṣas as “dear ones,” and wishing to bring that curse to an end, he spoke as follows—

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

महात्माthe great-souled one

यक्षेन्द्रःlord of the Yakshas

प्रत्युवाचreplied, spoke in return

अनुगामिनःthose who were following

सर्वान्all

यक्षगणान्the groups of Yakshas

तातdear one / son (address)

शापस्यof the curse

अन्तचिकीर्षयाwith the desire to bring about the end

तातdear one (address)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Yakṣendra (lord of the Yakṣas)

Yakṣagaṇa (hosts of Yakṣas)

Śāpa (curse)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic model of authority: true leadership seeks to remove suffering and resolve harmful conditions (like a curse) rather than prolong conflict. Power is shown as responsibility aimed at restoration.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that the Yakṣa-lord, followed by his attendants, addresses all the Yakṣa hosts and speaks with the intention of ending a curse. This line functions as a transition into the Yakṣendra’s forthcoming speech or directive.