Shloka 7

Nakula’s Adaptive Counsel to Kṛṣṇa in the Kuru Assembly (उद्योगपर्व, अध्याय ७८)

Devanagari script

तथापि बुद्धि पापिष्ठां वर्धयन्त्यस्य मन्त्रिण:

Transliteration

tathāpi buddhiṁ pāpiṣṭhāṁ vardhayanty asya mantriṇaḥ

Translation

Namun demikian, para penasihatnya terus mengobarkan tekadnya yang paling berdosa, makin menguatkan niat yang menjauhkannya dari dharma.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• अपि: also, even, nevertheless
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable particle)

• बुद्धिम्: understanding, counsel, intention
• बुद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पापिष्ठाम्: most sinful, very wicked
• पापिष्ठाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापिष्ठ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular (superlative degree)

• वर्धयन्ति: they increase, they augment
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध्
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• अस्य: of him, his
• अस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मन्त्रिणः: ministers, counsellors
• मन्त्रिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• his counsellors (mantriṇaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unrighteous outcomes often arise not only from a leader’s weakness but from advisers who reinforce harmful intentions. Ethical counsel should restrain wrongdoing, not amplify it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna comments on a ruler’s deteriorating moral judgment, noting that the ruler’s ministers are actively encouraging and strengthening his sinful resolve—an observation that frames the political-ethical tensions leading toward conflict.