Shloka 17

देवविमान-दर्शनम् / The Celestial Assembly and Vimana Spectacle

Bhīṣma–Arjuna Encounter Framed Cosmically

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो दुर्योधनो द्रोणं क्षमयामास भारत । सह कर्णेन भीष्मेण कृपेण च महात्मना,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर दुर्योधनने कर्ण, भीष्म और महात्मा कृपाचार्यके साथ आचार्य द्रोणसे क्षमा माँगी

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato duryodhano droṇaṃ kṣamayāmāsa bhārata | saha karṇena bhīṣmeṇa kṛpeṇa ca mahātmanā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Then Duryodhana, O descendant of Bharata, sought forgiveness from Droṇa, in the company of Karṇa, Bhīṣma, and the great-souled Kṛpa.”

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaishampayana

उवाचsaid

ततःthen/thereupon

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

द्रोणम्Drona

क्षमयामासbegged pardon / asked forgiveness

भारतO Bharata (descendant of Bharata)

सहtogether with

कर्णेनwith Karna

भीष्मेणwith Bhishma

कृपेणwith Kripa

चand

महात्मनाwith the great-souled (one)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Duryodhana

Droṇa

Karṇa

Bhīṣma

Kṛpa

Janamejaya

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?

The verse underscores the dharmic importance of honoring and reconciling with one’s teacher and elders. Seeking forgiveness is presented as a necessary ethical act, especially for rulers whose personal conduct shapes collective outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a prior tension or offense, Duryodhana approaches Droṇa to ask pardon, accompanied by senior figures—Karṇa, Bhīṣma, and Kṛpa—suggesting a formal, politically significant attempt to restore unity among the Kaurava leadership.