Shloka 7

Nakula’s Adaptive Counsel to Kṛṣṇa in the Kuru Assembly (उद्योगपर्व, अध्याय ७८)

Devanagari script

तथापि बुद्धि पापिष्ठां वर्धयन्त्यस्य मन्त्रिण:

Transliteration

tathāpi buddhiṁ pāpiṣṭhāṁ vardhayanty asya mantriṇaḥ

Translation

Even so, his counsellors keep inflaming his most sinful resolve—strengthening the very intention that leads him further away from righteousness.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• अपि: also, even, nevertheless
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable particle)

• बुद्धिम्: understanding, counsel, intention
• बुद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पापिष्ठाम्: most sinful, very wicked
• पापिष्ठाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापिष्ठ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular (superlative degree)

• वर्धयन्ति: they increase, they augment
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध्
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• अस्य: of him, his
• अस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मन्त्रिणः: ministers, counsellors
• मन्त्रिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• his counsellors (mantriṇaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unrighteous outcomes often arise not only from a leader’s weakness but from advisers who reinforce harmful intentions. Ethical counsel should restrain wrongdoing, not amplify it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna comments on a ruler’s deteriorating moral judgment, noting that the ruler’s ministers are actively encouraging and strengthening his sinful resolve—an observation that frames the political-ethical tensions leading toward conflict.