Shloka 39

ऋषिसमागमः — युधिष्ठिरस्य शोकवर्णनम्

Sage Assembly and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Articulation of Grief

Devanagari script

कर्णार्जुनसहायो5हं जयेयमपि वासवम्‌ | सभायां क्लिश्यमानस्य धार्तराष्ट्रैरुरात्मभि:

Transliteration

karṇārjuna-sahāyo ’haṃ jayeyam api vāsavam | sabhāyāṃ kliśyamānasya dhārtarāṣṭrair urātmabhiḥ ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Avec Karṇa et Arjuna pour alliés, je pourrais vaincre même Vāsava (Indra). Et pourtant, dans l’assemblée royale, j’ai été accablé par les Dhṛtarāṣṭra, des hommes au naturel cruel.»

Word by Word

कर्णार्जुनसहायःone having Karna and Arjuna as helpers/companions

अहम्I

जयेयम्may I conquer / I could conquer

अपिeven; also

वासवम्Vāsava (Indra)

सभायाम्in the assembly hall

क्लिश्यमानस्यof (one) being afflicted/tormented

धार्तराष्ट्रैःby the Dhārtarāṣṭras (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

उरात्मभिःby evil-souled (ones)

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Karna

Arjuna

Vāsava (Indra)

Dhṛtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)

Sabhā (royal assembly)

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 contrasts capability with conduct: even possessing the strength to defeat mighty foes, a righteous king may endure injustice in the court, highlighting the ethical tension between power, patience, and the demands of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira recalls his suffering in the royal assembly at the hands of the Kauravas, lamenting that despite having formidable allies like Karṇa and Arjuna—enough to challenge even Indra—he was still subjected to humiliation and torment in the court.