Shloka 8

Devanagari script

अथवा कुशला: केचिदुपायनिपुणा नरा: । इतरेतरत:ः पार्थान्‌ भेदयन्त्वनुरागत:,अथवा कुछ ऐसे मनुष्य भेजे जाय, जो उपाय ढूँढ़ निकालनेमें चतुर तथा कार्यकुशल हों और प्रेमपूर्वक बातें करके कुन्तीपुत्रोंमें परस्पर फ़ूट डाल दें

Transliteration

athavā kuśalāḥ kecid upāya-nipuṇā narāḥ | itaretarataḥ pārthān bhedayantu anurāgataḥ ||

Translation

Ou bien, qu’on dépêche quelques hommes capables—habiles en expédients et efficaces dans l’action—afin que, par des paroles feignant l’affection et la loyauté, ils sèment la discorde parmi les fils de Kuntī (les Pāṇḍava), les dressant les uns contre les autres.

Word by Word

अथवाor else

कुशलाःskilled, competent

केचित्some

उपाय-निपुणाःexpert in stratagems/means

नराःmen, persons

इतरेतरतःmutually, from one another

पार्थान्the sons of Pṛthā (Pāṇḍavas)

भेदयन्तुlet them divide / sow dissension

अनुरागतःaffectionately, with apparent attachment

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas / sons of Kuntī)

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 illustrates an adharma-driven political tactic: exploiting the appearance of affection to fracture unity. It warns, by negative example, that manipulation of trust and engineered discord are ethically destructive even if they seem strategically effective.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana proposes sending skilled agents who, through persuasive and seemingly friendly speech, will create internal divisions among the Pāṇḍavas, weakening them without direct confrontation.