Mahabharata 9.61.38 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 61, Shloka 38

Duryodhana-śibira-praveśaḥ — The Pāṇḍavas Enter the Kaurava Camp; The Burning of Arjuna’s Chariot

Devanagari script

त्वया पुनरनार्येण जिद्ममार्गेण पार्थिवा:

Transliteration

tvayā punar anāryeṇa jidma-mārgeṇa pārthivāḥ

Translation

त्वया पुनरनार्येण जिह्ममार्गेण पार्थिवाः (विपथं नीताः)।

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Tritiya (Instrumental), Eka (Singular)

• पुनः: again; moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• अनार्येण: by (one who is) ignoble
• अनार्येण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनार्य
• Form: Pum (Masculine), Tritiya (Instrumental), Eka (Singular)

• जिद्ममार्गेण: by a crooked/oblique way (lit. by a deceitful path)
• जिद्ममार्गेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिद्ममार्ग
• Form: Pum (Masculine), Tritiya (Instrumental), Eka (Singular)

• पार्थिवाः: kings; rulers
• पार्थिवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Pum (Masculine), Prathama (Nominative), Bahu (Plural)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• pārthivāḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns resorting to an 'anārya' (ignoble) and 'jidma' (crooked/deceptive) method, implying that unrighteous means—especially in matters affecting rulers and public order—carry ethical blame and corrupt the moral fabric of leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, characterizes someone’s conduct as ignoble and deceitful, stating that through such a crooked course the kings (pārthivāḥ) have been adversely affected—framing the ongoing war narrative in terms of moral accountability.