Shloka 5

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 72 — Bhīmasena’s counsel on conciliation and Duryodhana’s disposition

Devanagari script

न हि कार्पण्यमास्थाय शक्‍्या वृत्तिर्युधिष्ठिर । विक्रमस्व महाबाहो जहि शत्रून्‌ परंतप,महाबाहु युधिष्ठिर! दीनताका आश्रय लेनेसे क्षत्रियकी जीविका नहीं चल सकती। शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले महाराज! अब पराक्रम दिखाइये और शत्रुओंका संहार कीजिये

Transliteration

na hi kārpaṇyam āsthāya śakyā vṛttir yudhiṣṭhira | vikramasva mahābāho jahi śatrūn parantapa ||

Translation

“For a kṣatriya, livelihood and rightful standing cannot be sustained by taking refuge in dejection and self-pity, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Show your valor, mighty-armed one; strike down the enemies, O scorcher of foes.”

Word by Word

नnot

हिindeed/for

कार्पण्यम्cowardice/despondency

आस्थायhaving resorted to

शक्याpossible

वृत्तिःlivelihood/way of living

युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira

विक्रमस्वexert yourself/show valor

महाबाहोO mighty-armed one

जहिslay/kill

शत्रून्enemies

परंतपO scorcher of foes

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

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?

A kṣatriya should not let kārpaṇya (dejection/self-pity) paralyze rightful duty; ethical leadership requires courage and decisive action to uphold dharma and protect order.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Yudhiṣṭhira is being exhorted to abandon despair and to act with valor against enemies—an encouragement to commit to the impending conflict as a matter of duty.