Shloka 7

Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 187: Drupada’s Inquiry and the Dharma Debate on Draupadī’s Marriage

Devanagari script

यद्येष दर्पद्धिर्षाद्‌ वाप्यथ ब्राह्णचापलात्‌ | प्रस्थितो धनुरायन्तुं वार्यतां साधु मा गमत्‌,“यदि यह अभिमान, हर्ष अथवा ब्राह्मणसुलभ चंचलताके कारण धनुषपर डोरी चढ़ानेके लिये आगे बढ़ा है तो इसे रोक देना चाहिये; अच्छा तो यही होगा कि यह जाय ही नहीं!

Transliteration

yadyeṣa darpād dhṛṣād vāpy atha brāhmaṇacāpalāt | prasthito dhanur āyantuṁ vāryatāṁ sādhu mā gamat ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “If this man has stepped forward to string the bow out of pride, reckless audacity, or mere Brahmin-like fickleness, then he should be restrained. It would be best that he not go at all.”

Word by Word

यदिif

एषःthis (man)

दर्पात्from pride / due to pride

हर्षात्from excitement / due to joy

वाor

अथor else / then

ब्राह्मणचापलात्from brahmin-like fickleness / due to brahminical caprice

प्रस्थितःhaving set out / having proceeded

धनुःthe bow

आयन्तुम्to string / to fit (the bowstring)

वार्यताम्let him be restrained / he should be stopped

साधुwell; rightly; better

माdo not

गमत्let him go

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

bow (dhanuḥ)

bowstringing (āyantum)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that actions driven by pride, rash bravado, or unstable impulse should be checked. Ethical conduct requires restraint and discernment before undertaking a consequential act.

What is happening in the narrative?

A person is about to step forward to string a bow—an act that can signal readiness for a major trial or confrontation. The speaker advises others to stop him if his motive is mere ego, reckless daring, or capriciousness, implying the situation demands seriousness and right intention.