Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 11

Chapter 59: Baladeva’s Censure, Keśava’s Restraint, and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Moral Accounting

ये न: पुरा षण्ढतिलानवोचन्‌ क्रूरा राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रा: । ते नो हता: सगणा: सानुबन्धा: काम स्वर्ग नरकं वा पताम:,*राजा धृतराष्ट्रके जिन क्रूर पुत्रोंने पहले हमें थोथे तिलोंके समान नपुंसक कहा था, वे अपने सेवकों और सम्बन्धियोंसहित हमारे हाथसे मार डाले गये। अब हम भले ही स्वर्गमें जायाँ या नरकमें गिरें, इसकी चिन्ता नहीं है”

sañjaya uvāca |

ye naḥ purā ṣaṇḍhatilān avocan krūrā rājño dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ |

te no hatāḥ sagaṇāḥ sānubandhāḥ kāmaṃ svargaṃ narakaṃ vā patāmaḥ ||

സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു— രാജാവ് ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രന്റെ ആ ക്രൂരപുത്രന്മാർ, മുമ്പ് ഞങ്ങളെ ‘ഷണ്ഡർ’ എന്നും തൊലി കളഞ്ഞ എള്ളുപോലെ വിലയില്ലാത്തവരെന്നും പരിഹസിച്ചവർ—അവർ തന്നെ ഇന്ന് തങ്ങളുടെ കൂട്ടങ്ങളോടും ബന്ധുക്കളോടും കൂടി ഞങ്ങളുടെ കൈകളാൽ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു. ഇനി ഞങ്ങൾ സ്വർഗത്തിലേക്കുയരുകയോ നരകത്തിലേക്കുവീഴുകയോ ചെയ്താലും—ചിന്തയില്ല.

येwho (those who)
ये:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नःto us
नः:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormDative, Plural
पुराformerly, earlier
पुरा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरा
षण्ढतिलान्eunuch-sesames (i.e., worthless sesames; a slur)
षण्ढतिलान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootषण्ढतिल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अवोचन्said, called
अवोचन्:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormImperfect, 3, Plural, Parasmaipada
क्रूराःcruel
क्रूराः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootक्रूर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
राज्ञःof the king
राज्ञः:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
धृतराष्ट्रस्यof Dhṛtarāṣṭra
धृतराष्ट्रस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootधृतराष्ट्र
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
पुत्राःsons
पुत्राः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तेthey, those
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नःby us / of us
नः:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Plural
हताःkilled, slain
हताः:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPast passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural
सगणाःtogether with their followers/retinue
सगणाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसगण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सानुबन्धाःtogether with their connections/associates
सानुबन्धाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसानुबन्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
कामindeed; as one pleases; no matter
काम:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकामम्
स्वर्गम्heaven
स्वर्गम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वर्ग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
नरकम्hell
नरकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनरक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
पतामःmay we fall/go (to)
पतामः:
TypeVerb
Rootपत्
FormPresent (optative/jussive sense), 1, Plural, Parasmaipada

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
D
Dhritarashtra
S
sons of Dhritarashtra (Kauravas)
H
heaven (svarga)
H
hell (naraka)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the moral peril of acting from wounded honor and vengeance: even after achieving retribution against cruel mockers, the speaker expresses indifference to heaven or hell, underscoring how rage and pride can eclipse concern for dharma and the karmic aftermath.

Sanjaya reports a triumphant, grim reflection: the Kauravas—who earlier derided the opposing side with a humiliating insult—have been killed along with their followers and allied connections, and the victors now speak as if the ultimate posthumous result (heaven or hell) no longer matters.