Shloka 70

Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच हम त्वा तु कौरव्यो राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । स ध्यात्वा भीष्मे युक्तममन्यत

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: haṁ tvā tu kauravyo rājā duryodhanas tadā | sa dhyātvā bhīṣme yuktam amanyata śikhaṇḍinaṁ na vadhitum ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଜନମେଜୟ! ଏ ସବୁ ଶୁଣି ସେ ସମୟରେ କୌରବ ରାଜା ଦୁର୍ଯ୍ୟୋଧନ କିଛିକ୍ଷଣ ଚିନ୍ତା କରି, ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କ ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗରେ ଶିଖଣ୍ଡୀକୁ ବଧ ନ କରିବା ହିଁ ଯୁକ୍ତିସଙ୍ଗତ ବୋଲି ମନେ କଲା।

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• त्वा: you
• त्वा: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• कौरव्यः: Kaurava (of the Kuru line)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौरव्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ध्यात्वा: having thought/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• भीष्मे: in/with regard to Bhīṣma
• भीष्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• युक्तम्: proper/appropriate
• युक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (PPP) from युज्

• अमन्यत: thought/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Duryodhana
• Bhīṣma
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Kuru (Kaurava lineage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid war, leaders weigh what is 'yukta' (proper) in light of moral constraints and reputational dharma; Duryodhana’s reflection shows an ethical calculus about how Bhīṣma should be engaged and what actions are considered fitting.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing prior counsel/events, Duryodhana pauses to think and decides that it is appropriate not to kill Śikhaṇḍin in the context of the plan involving Bhīṣma, indicating a deliberate choice about tactics and propriety.