Shloka 17
Devanagari script
योऊहं दुष्टमतिं मन्दो ज्ञातीनां भयवर्धनम्
Transliteration
yo ’haṃ duṣṭamatiṃ mando jñātīnāṃ bhayavardhanam
Translation
ドリタラーシュトラは言った。「この私こそ——愚かで、判断の濁った者——自らの親族のあいだに恐れを増し加えた者となった。」
Word by Word
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दुष्टमतिम्evil-minded (one)
दुष्टमतिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदुष्टमति
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
मन्दःdull, foolish
मन्दः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ज्ञातीनाम्of (my) kinsmen/relatives
ज्ञातीनाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootज्ञाति
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
भयवर्धनम्fear-increasing (cause of fear)
भयवर्धनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभयवर्धन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Characters & Entities
D
DhṛtarāṣṭraJ
jñāti (kinsmen/relatives)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s moral failure is not only personal; distorted judgment and weakness of discernment can make one a source of fear to one’s own people. The verse highlights accountability: recognizing one’s role in harming kin through misguided counsel and character flaws.
In Āśramavāsika Parva, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the aftermath of the Kurukṣetra catastrophe. Speaking in a tone of repentance, he condemns his own dullness and wrong-mindedness, admitting that his conduct and decisions intensified fear and suffering among his own relatives.