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

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Incluso esos cinco hombres magnánimos serán también enfrentados en batalla por los Pāṇḍavas—señal de que los Pāṇḍavas están dispuestos a encarar adversarios formidables en defensa de su derecho y de su dharma.

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.