Shloka 26

Devanagari script

एवं चाधार्मिका: पापा: पठ्चाला भिन्नसेतव: । तानेवं भिन्नमर्यादान्‌ कि भवान्‌ न निगहति

Transliteration

evaṁ cādhārmikāḥ pāpāḥ pāñcālā bhinnasetavaḥ | tān evaṁ bhinnamaryādān kiṁ bhavān na nigṛhṇāti ||

Translation

ଏହିପରି ପାଞ୍ଚାଳମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପାପୀ ଓ ଅଧାର୍ମିକ—ଧର୍ମ-ମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦାର ସେତୁ ଭାଙ୍ଗିଦେଇଥିବା ଲୋକ। ସେମାନେ ଏଭଳି ସମସ୍ତ ସୀମା ଲଂଘିଥିବାବେଳେ, ଆପଣ କାହିଁକି ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ରୋକୁନାହାନ୍ତି?

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अधार्मिकाः: unrighteous, irreligious
• अधार्मिकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधार्मिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पापाः: sinful, wicked
• पापाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाञ्चालाः: the Panchalas
• पाञ्चालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भिन्नसेतवः: those whose boundary/bridge is broken; transgressors
• भिन्नसेतवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्नसेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• भिन्नमर्यादान्: those who have broken the bounds/limits
• भिन्नमर्यादान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्नमर्याद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• किम्: why? / what (reason)?
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• निगृह्णाति: restrains, checks, punishes
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ग्रह्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kṛpa
• Pāñcālas
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical judgment in terms of maryādā (moral limits): when a group is perceived to have violated dharma, the speaker argues that restraint and accountability (nigraha) are justified, even necessary, within a war-ethics context.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛpa is speaking amid the tense aftermath of the Kurukṣetra war (Sauptika Parva), criticizing the Pāṇḍavas and their allies the Pāñcālas as boundary-breakers and questioning why they are not being checked or condemned—an argument used to press for a retaliatory stance.