Shloka 36

कर्मयोग–ज्ञानयज्ञ–अवतारोपदेश

Karma-Yoga, Jñāna-Yajña, and Avatāra Instruction

Devanagari script

अवाच्यवादांश्न बहून्‌ वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिता: । निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्य ततो दुःखतरं नु किम्‌

Transliteration

avācyavādāṁś ca bahūn vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ | nindantas tava sāmarthya tato duḥkhataraṁ nu kim ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「敵どもは汝の力を嘲り、口にするも忌まわしい罵りの言葉を数多く浴びせるであろう。それより大きな苦しみがあろうか。」

Word by Word

• अवाच्य: unspeakable, improper-to-say
• अवाच्य: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवाच्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वादान्: words/speeches/utterances
• वादान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वदिष्यन्ति: they will say/speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Plural

• तव: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अहिताः: ill-wishers, enemies
• अहिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निन्दन्तः: censuring, blaming
• निन्दन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: निन्द्
• Form: Present active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तव: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• सामर्थ्यम्: power, capability
• सामर्थ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामर्थ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: from that/thereafter; than that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• दुःखतरम्: more painful, more sorrowful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखतर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नु: indeed/then (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु

• किम्: what?
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• enemies (āhitāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how dishonor and public ridicule—especially questioning one’s courage and capability—can be a deeper suffering than physical danger, emphasizing the ethical weight of reputation and resolve in a warrior context.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya warns that hostile people will mock and insult the addressed hero, belittling his strength; he frames this anticipated public contempt as an especially grievous consequence.