Shloka 28

गान्धारी-प्रशमनम् — Pacification of Gāndhārī and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel at Hāstinapura

Devanagari script

युधिछिर उवाच प्रमुक्त द्रोणकर्णाभ्यां ब्रह्मास्त्रमरिमर्दन

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca pramukta-droṇa-karṇābhyāṁ brahmāstram arimardana

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O subduer of foes, the Brahmāstra has been discharged by Droṇa and Karṇa.”

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular

• प्रमुक्तम्: released, discharged
• प्रमुक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-मुच्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्रोणकर्णाभ्याम्: by Droṇa and Karṇa
• द्रोणकर्णाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणकर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• ब्रह्मास्त्रम्: the Brahmā-weapon (Brahmāstra)
• ब्रह्मास्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मास्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अरिमर्दन: O crusher of foes (epithet)
• अरिमर्दन: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिमर्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Droṇa
• Karṇa
• Brahmāstra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grave ethical tension of war: when supreme weapons are unleashed, the stakes become existential, demanding heightened discernment, restraint, and responsible counsel so that power does not eclipse dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira reports to a addressed hero (“arimardana”) that Droṇa and Karṇa have released the Brahmāstra—signaling a critical escalation on the battlefield and prompting urgent strategic and moral response.