Shloka 18

Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ

Devanagari script

उक्त्वा सकृत्‌ तथा सर्वान्‌ विकर्ण: पृथिवीपतीन्‌ । पाणौ पार्णिं विनिष्पिष्य नि:श्व॒सन्निदमब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

uktvā sakṛt tathā sarvān vikarṇaḥ pṛthivīpatīn | pāṇau pārṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya niḥśvasann idam abravīt ||

Translation

ಹೀಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ರಾಜರನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಹೇಳಿದರೂ ಉತ್ತರ ದೊರಕದೆ, ವಿಕರ್ಣನು ಕೈಗಳನ್ನು ಒರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ದೀರ್ಘ ನಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೀಗೆಂದನು.

Word by Word

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —

• सकृत्: once
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत्

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विकर्णः: Vikarṇa
• विकर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृथिवीपतीन्: kings (lords of the earth)
• पृथिवीपतीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पाणौ: in/on (his) hand
• पाणौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पार्णिम्: the palm (of the hand)
• पार्णिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्णि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विनिष्पिष्य: having rubbed/pressed (together)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ष्पिष्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —

• नि:श्वसन्: sighing, breathing out
• नि:श्वसन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-श्वस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vikarna
• pṛthivīpati (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical urgency in a public crisis: when those responsible remain silent, a conscientious person may feel compelled to speak, even at personal risk. Vikarna’s sigh and hand-wringing underscore inner conflict turning into moral resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal assembly, Vikarna has repeatedly appealed to the gathered kings for a response. Receiving none, he shows visible distress—rubbing his hands and sighing—and then begins to speak, setting up his forthcoming argument about what is right in the situation.