Shloka 20

Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 31 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Instructions to Sañjaya

Peace Appeal and Five-Village Proposal

Devanagari script

कथं हि मन्त्राग्रयधरो मनीषी धर्मार्थयोरापदि सम्प्रणेता । एवं युक्त: सर्वमन्त्रैरहीनो नरो नृशंसं कर्म कुर्यादमूढ:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

kathaṁ hi mantrāgrayadharo manīṣī dharmārthayor āpadi sampranetā |

evaṁ yuktaḥ sarvamantrair ahīno naro nṛśaṁsaṁ karma kuryād amūḍhaḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ମନ୍ତ୍ରଧାରୀ, ପ୍ରଜ୍ଞାବାନ, ଏବଂ ଆପଦ୍କାଳରେ ଧର୍ମ ଓ ଅର୍ଥନୀତିକୁ ଯଥାଯଥ ଭାବେ ପଥପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କରେ; ଯେ କୌଣସି ଉତ୍ତମ ପରାମର୍ଶରେ ଅଭାବୀ ନୁହେଁ—ସେ ଅମୂଢ଼ ପୁରୁଷ କିପରି ନିର୍ଦୟ କର୍ମ କରିପାରିବ?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• मन्त्र: of counsels/strategies
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अग्रय: excellent/chief
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्रय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• धरः: holder/bearer
• धरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मनीषी: wise man
• मनीषी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्म: of dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• अर्थयोः: and artha (policy/wealth)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• आपदि: in calamity/in distress
• आपदि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• सम्प्रणेता: leader/guide/director
• सम्प्रणेता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-प्र-नी (सम्प्रणेता)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• युक्तः: endowed/connected
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्व: with all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मन्त्रैः: by/with counsels
• मन्त्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अहीनः: not lacking
• अहीनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-हीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नृशंसम्: cruel/heinous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्यात्: should do/would do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अमूढः: not deluded/wise
• अमूढः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-मूढ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True wisdom and competent counsel are incompatible with nṛśaṁsa (cruel, inhumane) action; a leader who can balance dharma and artha, especially in crisis, should not descend into brutality.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya voices moral astonishment and reproach: he points out that a person renowned for sound counsel and prudent crisis-guidance should not be capable of committing a ruthless deed, highlighting the ethical tension driving the Udyoga Parva’s diplomacy and impending war.