Shloka 24
Devanagari script
अजानता मया क्षात्रा राज्यलुब्धेन घातित:
Transliteration
ajānātā mayā kṣātrā rājyalubdhena ghātitaḥ
Translation
ユディシュティラは言った。「我が無知ゆえに――クシャトリヤの掟に駆り立てられ、王権への貪欲に目を覆われて――人々を殺させてしまったのだ。」
Word by Word
अजानताby (me) not knowing; unknowingly
अजानता:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअजानत् (√ज्ञा)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
मयाby me
मया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
क्षात्राःthe Kshatriyas; warriors
क्षात्राः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षात्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
राज्यलुब्धेनby one greedy for the kingdom
राज्यलुब्धेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootराज्यलुब्ध
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
घातिताःwere caused to be slain; were killed
घातिताः:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootघातित (√हन्/घातय्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
युधिछिर उवाच
Characters & Entities
Y
YudhiṣṭhiraR
rājya (kingdom/sovereignty)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
The verse highlights moral accountability: even actions justified as “kṣatriya duty” become ethically tainted when driven by craving for power. Yudhiṣṭhira frames violence as a consequence of ignorance and attachment to sovereignty, implying that dharma requires inner clarity and freedom from greed.
In the opening of Śānti Parva, after the devastation of the Kurukṣetra war, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in grief and self-reproach. He attributes the slaughter to his own failings—ignorance and desire for the kingdom—despite acting under the banner of warrior duty.