Shloka 15

द्रुपदवाक्यं

Drupada’s Counsel on Conciliation and Alliance Mobilization

Devanagari script

शकानां पह्नवानां च दरदानां च ये नृपा: । सुरारिश्व नदीजश्न कर्णवेष्टश्न॒ पार्थिव:

Transliteration

śakānāṁ pahnāvānāṁ ca dāradānāṁ ca ye nṛpāḥ | surāriśva nadījaś ca karṇaveṣṭaś ca pārthivāḥ ||

Translation

Drupada said: “The kings of the Śakas, the Pahlavas, and the Dāradās—together with the rulers named Surāriśva, Nadīja, and Karṇaveṣṭa—(are also to be counted among those assembled).”

Word by Word

• शकानाम्: of the Śakas
• शकानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पह्नवानाम्: of the Pahlavas
• पह्नवानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पह्नव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• दरदानाम्: of the Daradas
• दरदानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरद
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• ये: who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुरारिः: enemy of the gods (a title/name)
• सुरारिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरारि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• नदीजः: river-born (a title/name)
• नदीजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदीज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• कर्णवेष्टः: ear-ornamented / with ears covered (a title/name)
• कर्णवेष्टः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णवेष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• पार्थिवः: a king / ruler
• पार्थिवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

दुपद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• दुपद (Drupada)
• शक (Śakas)
• पहल्व (Pahlavas)
• दारद (Dāradās/Daradas)
• सुरारिश्व (Surāriśva)
• नदीज (Nadīja)
• कर्णवेष्ट (Karṇaveṣṭa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how a single political crisis expands to involve many kingdoms and peoples; ethical responsibility in leadership is magnified because decisions about war and alliance-making draw entire regions into suffering or protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Drupada is listing kings/peoples—Śakas, Pahlavas, Daradas, and named rulers—within a broader enumeration of those aligned or present in the unfolding diplomatic-military situation of the Udyoga Parva.