Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 49

अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

नातिदूरापयातं च कृतबुद्धि: पलायने

Transliteration

nātidūrāpayātaṃ ca kṛtabuddhiḥ palāyane

Translation

அவன் அதிக தூரம் செல்லவில்லை; ஏனெனில் தப்பிச் செல்ல வேண்டும் என்ற தீர்மானம் அவன் மனத்தில் உறுதியாகிவிட்டது.

Word by Word

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

• अतिदूरात्: from too far (away)
• अतिदूरात्: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतिदूर
• Form: Ablatival adverb (from ablative singular sense)

• अपयातम्: gone away, retreated
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-या
• Form: Past passive participle; neuter nominative/accusative singular (used adverbially/with implied subject)

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

• कृतबुद्धिः: one who has made up his mind, resolute
• कृतबुद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतबुद्धि
• Form: Masculine nominative singular

• पलायने: in flight, in fleeing
• पलायने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलायन
• Form: Neuter locative singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights a moral-psychological moment: once the mind is fixed on flight (palāyana), action follows quickly, even before one has gone far. In the Mahābhārata’s war context, such resolve contrasts with the expected steadiness of a kṣatriya and frames retreat as a lapse from martial duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a warrior (implied by context) had begun to withdraw but had not yet gone far; his intention was already set on escaping. The verse functions as a brief narrative snapshot emphasizing the immediacy of his attempted flight.