Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्‍्त्वा स वामेन पदा मौलिमुपास्पृशत्‌

Transliteration

evam uktvā sa vāmena padā maulim upāspṛśat

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞിട്ട് അവൻ ഇടത് കാൽ കൊണ്ട് അവന്റെ ശിരോമൗളി സ്പർശിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active, having done (prior action)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• वामेन: with the left
• वामेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, singular

• पदा: with (his) foot
• पदा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• मौलिम्: the head/crown (top of the head)
• मौलिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौलि
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• उपास्पृशत्: touched
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√स्पृश्
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intentional humiliation—especially through culturally charged gestures like using the left foot—deepens hostility and undermines ethical restraint, showing how adharma can manifest not only in weapons but also in conduct and speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

After speaking, a male figure performs a pointed act of disrespect by touching the crown of his head with his left foot, and Sañjaya reports this to Dhṛtarāṣṭra as part of the escalating tensions and harsh behaviors within the war narrative.