Shloka 20

Nārada’s Visit at Indraprastha and Counsel on Concord; Introduction to Sundopasunda–Tilottamā

Devanagari script

एषा मम मतिस्तात निग्रहाय प्रवर्तते । साध्वी वा यदि वासाध्वी कि वा राधेय मन्यसे,पिताजी! शत्रुओंको वशमें करनेके लिये ये ही उपाय मेरी बुद्धिमें आते हैं; मेरा यह विचार भला है या बुरा, यह आप जानें। अथवा कर्ण! तुम्हारी क्या राय है?

Transliteration

eṣā mama matis tāta nigrahāya pravartate | sādhvī vā yadi vāsādhvī ki vā rādheya manyase ||

Translation

Dijo Duryodhana: «Padre, éste es el designio al que mi mente se inclina para someter a nuestros enemigos. Si esta determinación es justa o injusta, júzgalo tú. O tú, Radheya (Karna), ¿qué opinas?»

Word by Word

एषाthis (f.)

ममof me / my

मतिःthought, intention, plan

तातdear father / sir (voc.)

निग्रहायfor subduing / restraining

प्रवर्ततेproceeds, is directed, is set in motion

साध्वीgood, proper, right (f.)

वाor

यदिif

वासाध्वीor (if) improper/bad (f.)

किwhat?

वाor

राधेयO Radheya (Karna)

मन्यसेyou think, you consider

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

द

दुर्योधन (Duryodhana)

ध

धृतराष्ट्र (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) [implied by 'tāta']

क

कर्ण (Karna)

र

राधेय (Rādheya)

श

शत्रवः (enemies)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension in political decision-making: a leader’s strategy to control opponents must be weighed as sādhvī (proper) or asādhvī (improper). It also shows the importance—and potential manipulation—of seeking validation from elders and influential allies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana presents his proposed course of action for subduing his rivals and asks his father (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) to judge whether it is right or wrong, then turns to Karna (addressed as Rādheya) for his opinion—seeking support for a plan aimed at dominating the opposing side.