Shloka 6
मौसलपर्व — अध्याय ८
Arjuna’s evacuation of Dvārakā, Vasudeva’s rites, and the caravan’s crisis
'पार्थ! क्या तुमने नख, बाल अथवा अधोवस्त्र (धोती)-की कोर पड़ जानेसे अशुद्ध हुए घड़ेके जलसे स्नान कर लिया है? अथवा तुमने रजस्वला स्त्रीसे समागम या किसी ब्राह्मणका वध तो नहीं किया है? ।। युद्धे पराजितो वासि गतश्रीरिव लक्ष्यसे । नत्वां प्रभिन्न जानामि किमिदं भरतर्षभ
Pārtha! kiṁ tvayā nakha-bāla athavā adhovastra-dhotī-kora-patana-hetunā aśuddhī-bhūta-ghaṭa-jalena snānaṁ kṛtam? athavā tvayā rajasvalā-striyā saha samāgamaḥ kṛto vā, kiṁcid brāhmaṇa-vadhaṁ vā kṛtam? yuddhe parājito vāsi gataśrīr iva lakṣyase; na tvāṁ prabhinnam jānāmi—kim idaṁ, bharatarṣabha?
नखकेशदशाकुम्भवारिणा किं समुक्षितः । आवीरजानुगमनं ब्राह्मणो वा हतस्त्वया ॥ युद्धे पराजितो वासि गतश्रीरिव लक्ष्यसे । न त्वां प्रभिन्नं जानामि किमिदं भरतर्षभ ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral-ritual diagnostic: visible loss of radiance and confidence is interpreted through the lens of dharma—possible breaches such as impurity in bathing, forbidden sexual contact, or the grave sin of brāhmaṇa-killing. It reflects the epic’s ethical worldview where inner state and outer fortune are linked to conduct.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Arjuna (Pārtha), noticing that he looks diminished—like one defeated and stripped of fortune. He questions whether Arjuna has incurred impurity or committed a serious transgression, seeking the cause of Arjuna’s altered appearance and demeanor.