Mahabharata — Ashramavasika Parva, Shloka 26

अश्रमवासिनां विषादः — Lament in Hastināpura after the Elders’ Forest Withdrawal

Devanagari script

किं तु तस्य सुदुर्बुद्धेर्मन्दस्यापनयैर्भूशम्‌

Transliteration

kiṃ tu tasya sudurbuddher mandasyāpanayair bhūśam

Translation

Mais quant à cet homme à l’esprit obtus et à l’intelligence profondément dévoyée, il fut cruellement accablé par des revers et des humiliations répétés : son esprit, loin d’être corrigé, s’enfonçait davantage dans la confusion.

Word by Word

• किम्: but/indeed (in the sense of 'however' with तु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम्

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तस्य: of him/that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• सुदुर्बुद्धेः: of the very evil-minded one
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदुर्बुद्धि
• Form: feminine, genitive, singular

• मन्दस्य: of the dull/slow one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• अपनयैः: by removals/expulsions; by means of driving away
• अपनयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपनय
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• भूशम्: greatly, exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूशम्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A corrupted or dull intellect does not easily learn from correction; repeated reversals can intensify confusion and suffering when one lacks discernment (buddhi) and receptivity to right counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana comments on a person characterized as misguided and dull-minded, noting that he is strongly affected—indeed overwhelmed—by repeated setbacks or humiliations, highlighting the psychological and ethical fallout of poor judgment.