Shloka 11

Draupadī’s Lament and the Question of Kṣatriya Forbearance (द्रौपद्याः शोकप्रलापः क्षमानिर्णयश्च)

Devanagari script

आददीरन्नधिकृता यथाकाममचेतस: । प्रदिष्टानि च देयानि न दद्युर्भवृशासनात्‌,विभिन्न कार्योंमें नियुक्त किये हुए मूर्ख सेवक अपने इच्छानुसार क्षमाशील स्वामीके रथ, वस्त्र, अलंकार, शय्या, आसन, भोजन, पान तथा समस्त सामग्रियोंका उपयोग करते रहते हैं तथा स्वामीकी आज्ञा होनेपर भी किसीको देनेयोग्य वस्तुएँ नहीं देते हैं

Transliteration

ādadīrann adhikṛtā yathākāmam acetasaḥ | pradiṣṭāni ca deyāni na dadyur bhavṛśāsanāt ||

Translation

Los sirvientes necios, aunque nombrados para deberes concretos, toman y usan los bienes de su señor a su antojo, sin juicio. Y aun cuando ciertos objetos han sido expresamente destinados para ser entregados, no los dan, desafiando el mandato del dueño.

Word by Word

• {'ādadīran': 'they take, they appropriate (from √dā/√dā- in the sense of taking

• intensive/iterative nuance)', 'adhikṛtāḥ': 'appointed, assigned to an office/duty

• authorized', 'yathākāmam': 'as they wish

• at their pleasure', 'acetasaḥ': 'unthinking, indiscreet, foolish (lit. without mind/understanding)', 'pradiṣṭāni': 'specifically directed, prescribed, designated', 'deyāni': 'things to be given

• distributable items', 'na dadyuḥ': 'they would not give

• they do not give', 'bhavṛśāsanāt': 'from/against the lord’s command

Speaker

प्रह्माद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• servants (sevakāḥ implied)
• master/lord (bhartṛ/bhava implied)
• command/order (śāsana)
• items to be given (deyāni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One entrusted with responsibility must act with discernment and fidelity: do not misuse what belongs to the master, and do not withhold what has been ordered to be given. Ethical service is defined by restraint, obedience to rightful instruction, and proper stewardship.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker illustrates a moral failing through the example of incompetent or corrupt servants: though officially appointed, they indulge in the master’s resources at will and refuse to distribute designated gifts even when commanded—highlighting disorder that arises when duty and authority are ignored.