Shloka 25
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Remorse and Vyāsa’s Teaching on Impermanence (Śoka-nivāraṇa)
Devanagari script
न भोक्ष्ये न च पानीयमुपभोक्ष्ये कथठ्चन
Transliteration
na bhokṣye na ca pānīyam upabhokṣye kathaṃcana
Translation
நான் உணவும் உண்ணமாட்டேன்; நீரும் அருந்தமாட்டேன்; எந்த வகையிலும் அன்னமும் நீரும் ஏற்கமாட்டேன்.
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
भोक्ष्येI shall eat
भोक्ष्ये:
TypeVerb
Rootभुज्
Formलृट् (simple future), 1st, singular, परस्मैपद
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
पानीयम्drink; drinking water
पानीयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपानीय
Formneuter, accusative, singular
उपभोक्ष्येI shall partake/enjoy (consume)
उपभोक्ष्ये:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-भुज्
Formलृट् (simple future), 1st, singular, परस्मैपद
कथञ्चनin any way; at all
कथञ्चन:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथञ्चन
Speaker
युधिछिर उवाच
Characters & Entities
Y
YudhiṣṭhiraCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights self-restraint as an ethical response to inner turmoil: when conscience is burdened, one may adopt austerity and refusal of comforts to reaffirm dharma, discipline desire, and signal seriousness about moral accountability.
In Śānti Parva’s post-war setting, Yudhiṣṭhira voices a firm resolve to abstain from food and drink, reflecting his intense grief and moral conflict after the devastation of the war and his struggle to reconcile kingship with righteousness.