Shloka 5

द्रौपद्याः शोकवचनम्

Draupadī’s Lament and Indictment of Misfortune

Devanagari script

नान्य: कर्ता ऋते भीमान्ममाद्य मनस: प्रियम्‌ । तत उत्थाय रात्रौ सा विहाय शयनं स्वकम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | nānyaḥ kartā ṛte bhīmān mamādya manasaḥ priyam | tata utthāya rātrau sā vihāya śayanaṃ svakam | duḥkhena mahatā yuktā mānasena manasvinī |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “None other than Bhīma can accomplish today what my heart longs for.” Having resolved thus, she rose in the night, leaving her own bed. The high-minded lady, burdened with great inner anguish, went swiftly to Bhīmasena’s dwelling, seeking protection and aid from her guardian.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अन्यः: another (person)
• अन्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्ता: doer, one who can do
• कर्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऋते: except, without
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते

• भीमान्: Bhima
• भीमान्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मम: of me, my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अद्य: today, now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• मनसः: of (my) mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्रियम्: dear, pleasing (thing)
• प्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• उत्थाय: having risen
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विहाय: having left, abandoning
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• शयनम्: bed, couch
• शयनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्वकम्: her own
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दुःखेन: with sorrow
• दुःखेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• महता: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• युक्ता: endowed/afflicted (with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Past passive participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मानसेन: mental, of the mind
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मनस्विनी: high-minded woman
• मनस्विनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīma (Bhīmasena)
• Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When dharma is violated and a vulnerable person is wronged, seeking rightful protection and decisive, disciplined strength is ethically appropriate. The verse highlights resolve (manasvinī) amid suffering and the moral legitimacy of turning to a capable protector to restore justice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā), distressed and determined, decides that only Bhīma can carry out what her heart seeks. She rises at night, leaves her bed, and goes to Bhīma’s residence, afflicted with intense inner sorrow and intent on obtaining his help and protection.