Shloka 16

स्त्रीपर्व १: धृतराष्ट्रशोकः संजयाश्वासनं च

Strī Parva 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Saṃjaya’s Consolation

Devanagari script

दुःशासनवधं श्रुत्वा कर्णस्य च विपर्ययम्‌

Transliteration

duḥśāsanavadhaṃ śrutvā karṇasya ca viparyayam

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Having heard of Duḥśāsana’s slaying, and also of Karṇa’s disastrous reversal of fortune, …” The line conveys the king’s shock and moral disorientation as the consequences of adharma in the Kuru war return upon his sons and allies.

Word by Word

• दुःशासन-वधम्: the killing of Duhshasana
• दुःशासन-वधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःशासन (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• कर्णस्य: of Karna
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विपर्ययम्: the calamity/reversal (misfortune)
• विपर्ययम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Duḥśāsana
• Karṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how violent and unethical choices in war culminate in inevitable suffering and reversal; even those who once felt secure in power must face the moral and emotional consequences when adharma bears fruit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra receives news of two crushing events for the Kauravas: Duḥśāsana has been slain, and Karṇa has met a disastrous end/defeat. This sets the tone for his grief and the unfolding lamentation in the Strī Parva.