Shloka 13

Devanagari script

त्रिभिर्भवद्धि्हिं विना नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे । धर्मकामार्थरहितो रोगार्त इव दु:खित:

Transliteration

tribhir bhavadbhiḥ vinā nāhaṃ jīvitum utsahe | dharma-kāma-artha-rahito rogārta iva duḥkhitaḥ ||

Translation

യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ പറഞ്ഞു—നിങ്ങൾ മൂവരില്ലാതെ ഞാൻ ജീവിക്കാൻ ധൈര്യമില്ല. ധർമ്മം, കാമം, അർത്ഥം എന്നിവ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടവനായി ഞാൻ രോഗപീഡിതനെപ്പോലെ ദുഃഖിതനാണ്.

Word by Word

त्रिभिःby/with three

भवत्by you (honorific), by your persons

हिindeed/for

विनाwithout

नnot

अहम्I

जीवितुम्to live

उत्सहेI am able / I dare

धर्मकामार्थरहितःdevoid of dharma, kāma, and artha

रोगार्तःafflicted by disease

इवlike/as if

दुःखितःsorrowful, distressed

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

the three (addressed persons)

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 underscores that a meaningful life is sustained by the three puruṣārthas—dharma (ethical order), artha (rightful means), and kāma (legitimate fulfillment). When these are lost, life feels like a painful illness; it also highlights how moral purpose and supportive relationships uphold resilience.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in distress, addressing three close companions (contextually, his three brothers), declaring that without them he cannot bear to live and feels stripped of life’s aims, suffering like a sick man.