Shloka 17

ऋषिसमागमः — युधिष्ठिरस्य शोकवर्णनम्

Sage Assembly and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Articulation of Grief

Devanagari script

द्रौपदी हतपुत्रेयं कृपणा हतबान्धवा । अस्मत्प्रियहिते युक्ता भूय: पीडयतीव माम्‌

Transliteration

drau

pad2b hataputreyam kpa0 hatab0ndhav0 | asmatpriyahite yukt0 bh6bya25 p2b0dayat2bva m0m ||

Translation

ユディシュティラは言った。「このドラウパディーは子を失い、哀れで、親族をも奪われた。それでもなお我らにとって愛しく益あることに心を尽くしているが、かえってそれが私の苦しみをいっそう深めるのだ。」

Word by Word

द्रौपदीDraupadi

हतपुत्राwhose sons are slain

इयंthis (woman)

कृपणाwretched, pitiable

हतबान्धवाwhose kinsmen are slain

अस्मत्of us/our

प्रियहितेin (what is) dear and beneficial

युक्ताengaged, devoted

भूयःagain, further

पीडयतिtorments, afflicts

इवas if

माम्me

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhi63hira

Draupad2b

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic paradox: the one who has suffered the greatest personal loss (Draupad2b) still remains committed to the welfare of others (the P00davas). This intensifies Yudhi63hirabcs ethical pain, underscoring that true loyalty and concern for others can deepen a righteous personbcs sense of accountability after violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the opening of a0nti Parva, after the devastating war, Yudhi63hira is overwhelmed by sorrow and moral conflict. Seeing Draupad2ba who has lost her sons and many relativesa yet still speaks and acts for what benefits the P00davas, he feels even more tormented, as her steadfastness mirrors and magnifies his own guilt and grief.