Shloka 9
द्रौपदी-शैब्यसंवादः — Draupadī’s Identification and Counsel on Hospitality
Devanagari script
भवेद् यश: पृथिव्यां मे ख्यातं गन्धर्वतो वधात्
Transliteration
bhaved yaśaḥ pṛthivyāṃ me khyātaṃ gandharvato vadhāt
Translation
“My fame would spread across the earth—renowned everywhere—if I were to slay that Gandharva.”
Word by Word
भवेत्may be / might become
भवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
FormVidhi-linga, Optative (potential), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
यशःfame, glory
यशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
पृथिव्याम्on the earth
पृथिव्याम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
मेmy / of me
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Form—, Genitive, Singular
ख्यातम्renowned, well-known
ख्यातम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्या)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
गन्धर्वतःfrom (the) Gandharva
गन्धर्वतः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootगन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
वधात्from the slaying/killing
वधात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootवध (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
Speaker
दुर्योधन उवाच
Characters & Entities
D
DuryodhanaG
GandharvaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how craving for fame can distort judgment: seeking public renown through killing reflects pride and moral blindness, contrasting with dharmic restraint and right intention.
Duryodhana speaks of the glory he expects to gain if he kills a Gandharva, framing the encounter as an opportunity for reputation rather than as a situation requiring prudence and ethical reflection.