Shloka 16

Daitya-āśvāsana of Duryodhana; Karṇa’s assurance and the mobilization of the Kaurava host

Devanagari script

अथवा सैनिका: केचिदपकुर्युर्युधिष्ठिरम्‌ । तदबुद्धिकृतं कर्म दोषमुत्पादयेच्च व:,अथवा यह भी सम्भव है कि तुमलोगोंके कुछ सैनिक युधिष्ठिरका अपमान कर बैठें और तुम्हारे अनजानमें किया गया यह अपराध तुमलोगोंके लिये हानिकारक हो जाय

Transliteration

athavā sainikāḥ kecid apakuryur yudhiṣṭhiram | tad abuddhikṛtaṃ karma doṣam utpādayec ca vaḥ ||

Translation

あるいは、そなたの兵のうち幾人かがユディシュティラを侮辱してしまうやもしれぬ。しかもその非は、無知ゆえであり、そなたの意図に出ぬものであっても、なお咎めを生み、そなたに害ある報いを招きうる。

Word by Word

अथवाor else; alternatively

सैनिकाःsoldiers

केचित्some (persons)

अपकुर्युःmight do harm to; might insult/offend

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhiṣṭhira

तत्that

अबुद्धि-कृतम्done through ignorance; unwittingly done

कर्मact; deed; offense

दोषम्fault; blame; sin

उत्पादयेत्might produce; might cause

चand

वःof you; for you (your)

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Yudhiṣṭhira

sainikāḥ (soldiers/troops)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even unintended wrongdoing committed by one’s subordinates can generate moral blame and harmful consequences for the group; leaders must prevent disrespect and injustice, especially toward the righteous.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra voices a caution that some soldiers might, in the heat of circumstances, offend Yudhiṣṭhira; such an ignorant act could still bring fault and harm upon those associated with it.