Shloka 16

Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ

Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit

Devanagari script

तेडपि पञ्च महात्मान: प्रतियोत्स्यन्ति पाण्डवा:

Transliteration

teḍ api pañca mahātmānaḥ pratiyotsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Even those five great-souled men, too, will be met in battle by the Pāṇḍavas—signaling the Pāṇḍavas’ readiness to confront formidable opponents in defense of their rightful cause and duty.

Word by Word

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta
• Type: Numeral
• Root: पञ्चन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महात्मानः: great-souled (men)
• महात्मानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रतियोत्स्यन्ति: will fight against / will oppose in battle
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-युध्
• Form: Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• five great-souled men (pañca mahātmānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores steadfastness in dharma: when righteous duty demands it, even highly respected or powerful opponents must be faced without wavering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana indicates that the Pāṇḍavas are prepared to engage in battle against a group described as 'five great-souled men,' emphasizing the seriousness of the impending confrontation.