Shloka 3

Devanagari script

तस्समिन्नाक्रुश्यति द्रोणे समक्ष पापकर्मणा । नीचात्मना नृशंसेन क्षुद्रेण गुरुघातिना

Transliteration

tasminn ākruśyati droṇe samakṣaṃ pāpakarmaṇā | nīcātmanā nṛśaṃsena kṣudreṇa gurughātinā ||

Translation

ధృతరాష్ట్రుడు అన్నాడు— ద్రోణుడు ఎదురుగా ఉండగానే అతనిని దూషించగా, పాపకర్ముడు, నీచాత్ముడు, క్రూరుడు, క్షుద్రుడు, గురుహంతకుడు అయిన వాడు అతనిపై దుర్వాక్యాలు విసిరాడు.

Word by Word

तस्मिन्in/at that (time/place)

आक्रुश्यतिcries out/shouts

द्रोणेin/at Droṇa (Dronacharya)

समक्षम्in the presence (of)

पापकर्मणाby/with evil deed(s)

नीचात्मनाby a base-souled (man)

नृशंसेनby a cruel (man)

क्षुद्रेणby a vile/contemptible (man)

गुरुघातिनाby a slayer of (his) teacher

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Droṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns adharma expressed as open abuse and cruelty, especially when directed at a revered teacher. It highlights that moral failure is not only in physical violence but also in speech and attitude—pettiness, mercilessness, and betrayal of the guru are portrayed as grave ethical degradations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes a moment in the war narrative where Droṇa is openly reviled in his presence. The abuser is characterized with a string of moral judgments—sinful, base, cruel, petty, and ‘gurughātin’—underscoring the intensity of hostility and the breakdown of traditional respect for teachers amid the conflict.