Shloka 28

Devanagari script

स तु भाराभिभूतात्मा न तथा शीघ्रगो5भवत्‌ | अथाब्रवीद द्रौपदीं च नकुलं च युधिष्ठिर:,भारसे उसका शरीर दबने लगा, इसलिये अब वह पहलेकी तरह शीघ्रतापूर्वक न चल सका। तब युधिष्ठिरने नकुल और द्रौपदीसे कहा--

Transliteration

sa tu bhārābhibhūtātmā na tathā śīghrago 'bhavat | athābravīd draupadīṃ ca nakulaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||

Translation

But he, his strength and spirit weighed down by the burden, could no longer move with the same speed as before. Then Yudhiṣṭhira addressed Draupadī and Nakula, indicating a shift from mere travel to deliberate, responsible action in the face of strain.

Word by Word

सःhe

तुbut/indeed

भाराभिभूतात्माone whose self was overpowered by the burden

नnot

तथाthus/so; in that manner

शीघ्रम्quickly

गःgoing; mover (as an epithet)

अभवत्was/became

अथthen

अब्रवीत्said/spoke

द्रौपदीम्Draupadi

चand

नकुलम्Nakula

चand

युधिष्ठिरःYudhishthira

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Draupadī

Nakula

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic leadership principle: when circumstances impose strain and one’s capacity diminishes, a responsible leader acknowledges the limitation and communicates with companions to decide the next step wisely rather than forcing reckless speed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Someone in the party becomes slowed because he is weighed down by a burden. Observing this change, Yudhiṣṭhira turns to Draupadī and Nakula and begins to speak, preparing to respond to the situation through counsel and coordinated action.