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Shloka 16

Rājasūyābhiṣeka-darśana: Duryodhana’s Observation of the Consecration

सपत्नानृध्यतो55त्मानं हीयमानं निशम्य च | अदृश्यामपि कौन्तेयश्रियं पश्यन्निवोद्यताम्‌

sapatnān ṛdhyato ’tmānaṃ hīyamānaṃ niśamya ca | adṛśyām api kaunteya-śriyaṃ paśyann ivodyatām ||

എതിരാളികൾ വളരുകയും താൻ ക്ഷയിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നതു കണ്ടാൽ, കൗന്തേയരുടെ അദൃശ്യമായാലും ഭാഗ്യം കണ്ണുമുമ്പിൽ കാണുന്നതുപോലെ കരുതി മനുഷ്യൻ താമസമില്ലാതെ എഴുന്നേറ്റ് പ്രവർത്തിക്കണം।

सपत्नान्rivals/enemies
सपत्नान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसपत्न
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
ऋध्यतःof (him) prospering/thriving
ऋध्यतः:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootऋध्
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Genitive, Singular
आत्मानम्self
आत्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
हीयमानम्being diminished/declining
हीयमानम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootही
FormPresent passive participle (शानच्), Masculine, Accusative, Singular
निशम्यhaving perceived/heard
निशम्य:
Karana
TypeVerb
Rootनि-शम्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अदृश्याम्invisible/unseen
अदृश्याम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअदृश्य
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
कौन्तेयO son of Kuntī
कौन्तेय:
TypeNoun
Rootकौन्तेय
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
श्रियम्fortune/prosperity
श्रियम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootश्री
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
पश्यन्seeing
पश्यन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
इवas if/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
उद्यताम्rise up/strive (be ready)
उद्यताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootउद्-या
FormImperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

दुर्योधन उवाच

D
Duryodhana
K
Kaunteyas (Pāṇḍavas)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a psychologically charged ethic of action driven by comparison: when rivals flourish and one’s own position wanes, one is urged to rouse oneself to decisive effort. In context, it reflects Duryodhana’s competitive, envy-tinged motivation rather than a dharmic ideal.

Duryodhana reacts to the rising prosperity and prestige of the Kaunteyas (Pāṇḍavas). Observing their success and sensing his own relative decline, he urges immediate resolve and action—an impulse that fuels the political maneuvers and hostility that follow in the Sabha Parva.