Shloka 27
Devanagari script
अपापा: पाण्डवा येन निकृता: पापबुद्धिना
Transliteration
apāpāḥ pāṇḍavā yena nikṛtāḥ pāpabuddhinā
Translation
వైశంపాయనుడు అన్నాడు: పాపరహితులైన పాండవులను పాపబుద్ధి గలవాడు మోసంతో వంచించి అన్యాయం చేశాడు।
Word by Word
अपापाःsinless, guiltless
अपापाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअपाप (अ- + पाप)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas
पाण्डवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
येनby whom; by which
येन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
निकृताःdeceived, wronged, injured
निकृताः:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootनि + कृ (क्त)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पापबुद्धिनाby (one) of sinful mind; by a wicked-minded (person)
पापबुद्धिना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपापबुद्धि (पाप + बुद्धि)
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaP
PāṇḍavasCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts inner intention with moral status: the Pāṇḍavas are described as 'apāpāḥ' (sinless), while the agent is 'pāpabuddhi' (evil-intentioned). Ethical judgment in the Mahābhārata often hinges on motive and integrity, and deceit (nikṛti) is marked as adharma even when it appears politically effective.
Vaiśampāyana recalls how the Pāṇḍavas were subjected to treachery—being cheated or wronged by a malicious-minded person—framing their later suffering and the unfolding consequences in the story’s moral arc.