Shloka 3

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 181 — Svayaṃvara Aftermath: Arjuna–Karna Exchange and Bhīma–Śalya Contest

Devanagari script

अधर्मिष्ठं वसिछेन कृतं चापि पुरा सखे । एतन्मे संशयं सर्व छेत्तुमहसि पृच्छत:,सखे! पूर्वकालमें महर्षि वसिष्ठने जो यह अधर्म-कार्य किया, उसका क्या कारण है? यह मेरा संशय है, जिसे मैं पूछता हूँ। आप मेरे इन सारे संशयोंका निवारण कीजिये

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | adharmiṣṭhaṃ vasiṣṭhena kṛtaṃ cāpi purā sakhe | etan me saṃśayaṃ sarvaṃ chettum arhasi pṛcchataḥ, sakhe ||

Translation

Arjuna said: “O friend, in former times the sage Vasiṣṭha is said to have done an act that appears most contrary to dharma. I am troubled by this doubt. Since I ask you, you should dispel it completely, O friend.”

Word by Word

अधर्मिष्ठम्most unrighteous

वसिष्ठेनby Vasiṣṭha

कृतम्done, committed

चand

अपिalso, even

पुराformerly, in the past

सखेO friend

एतत्this

मेmy, of me

संशयम्doubt

सर्वम्entirely, wholly

छेत्तुम्to cut off, to remove

अर्हसिyou ought, you are able

पृच्छतःof (me) asking, of the questioner

सखेO friend

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Vasiṣṭha

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even revered sages may appear to act against dharma in certain narratives; therefore one should inquire into context, motive, and higher principles before judging. The verse models respectful questioning to resolve ethical doubt.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna addresses a companion as “friend” and asks for clarification about an earlier episode in which Vasiṣṭha allegedly performed an adharmic deed. He requests a full explanation to remove his uncertainty.