Shloka 9

Kuntī–Karṇa Saṃvāda: Lineage Disclosure and Appeal to Fraternal Dharma

Devanagari script

ततः कुरूणामनयो भविता वीरनाशन: । चिन्तयन्‌ न लभे निद्रामह:सु च निशासु च,“इस प्रकार यह कौरवोंका अन्याय समस्त वीरोंका विनाश करनेवाला होगा। इन सब बातोंको सोचते हुए मुझे न तो दिनमें नींद आती है और न रातमें ही'

Transliteration

tataḥ kurūṇām anayo bhavitā vīranāśanaḥ | cintayan na labhe nidrām ahaḥsu ca niśāsu ca ||

Translation

అప్పుడు నేను ఆలోచించితిని—కౌరవుల ఈ అన్యాయం వీరనాశనానికి కారణమగును. ఈ సంగతులనే తలచుచు నాకు పగలూ నిద్ర లేదు, రాత్రీ నిద్ర లేదు.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereupon

कुरूणाम्of the Kurus

अनयःinjustice/wrongdoing

भविताwill become/will be

वीर-नाशनःdestroyer of heroes; causing the destruction of warriors

चिन्तयन्thinking/pondering

नnot

लभेI obtain/get

निद्राम्sleep

अहःसुin the days (by day)

चand

निशासुin the nights (by night)

चand

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kuru (Kauravas/Kuru lineage)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Adharma (wrongdoing) is not a private fault but a force that ripens into collective catastrophe. The verse frames injustice as vīranāśana—something that destroys even the greatest heroes—highlighting the ethical principle that unrighteous choices generate far-reaching, unavoidable consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, describes the mounting crisis caused by the Kurus’ unjust conduct. The situation is so grave that the speaker is consumed by worry and foresees large-scale destruction, resulting in sleeplessness both day and night.