Shloka 11

Drupada’s Instruction to the Purohita for the Kaurava Embassy (द्रुपदोपदेशः दूतप्रेषणम्)

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे पार्था: सुखमेकाग्रबुद्धयः

Transliteration

etasminn antare pārthāḥ sukham ekāgrabuddhayaḥ

Translation

Drupada dit : «Pendant ce temps, les fils de Pṛthā (les Pāṇḍava), l’esprit paisible et concentré sur un unique dessein, demeurèrent dans l’aisance.»

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अन्तरे: in the interval / meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पार्थाः: the sons of Pritha (the Pandavas)
• पार्थाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुखम्: happiness / comfort
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एकाग्रबुद्धयः: having concentrated minds
• एकाग्रबुद्धयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाग्रबुद्धि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

दुपद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• दुपद (Drupada)
• पार्थाः (Pāṇḍavas / sons of Pṛthā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical strength of mental steadiness: even amid political uncertainty, the righteous maintain one-pointed resolve and inner composure, which supports dharmic decision-making.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Drupada’s narration, there is a pause or interval in events during which the Pāṇḍavas are described as being calm and focused, suggesting readiness and disciplined intent as the larger diplomatic and war-related developments unfold.