Mahabharata 3.263.5 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 263, Shloka 5

Jatāyu’s Resistance, Sītā’s Traces, Kabandha’s Release, and the Path to Sugrīva (Āraṇyaka-parva 263)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच श्र॒ुत्वा तेषां तथा वृत्ति नगरे वसतामिव । दुर्योधनो महाराज तेषु पापमरोचयत्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | śrutvā teṣāṃ tathā vṛttiṃ nagare vasatām iva | duryodhano mahārāja teṣu pāpam arocayat |

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—మహారాజా! పాండవులు వనంలో ఉన్నప్పటికీ నగరవాసులవలె సుఖంగా జీవిస్తూ దానధర్మాలు కొనసాగిస్తున్నారని విని, దుర్యోధనుడు వారి పట్ల పాపబుద్ధిని కలిగి, వారికి హాని చేయాలని తలంచెను.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• तथा: thus; in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• वृत्तिम्: conduct; way of life
• वृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• नगरे: in a city
• नगरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वसताम्: of those dwelling
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• इव: as if; like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तेषु: towards them; in their case
• तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• पापम्: evil; sin; wickedness
• पापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अरोचयत्: he conceived/entertained (a thought); he inclined to
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, Causative (णिच्)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Duryodhana
• Pāṇḍavas
• forest (vana)
• city (nagara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts steadfast virtue with corrosive envy: the Pāṇḍavas maintain meritorious conduct even in hardship, while Duryodhana, unable to bear their well-being, inclines toward sinful intent—showing how jealousy can drive one from dharma to adharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

News reaches Duryodhana that the Pāṇḍavas are living contentedly in the forest, continuing generous and righteous practices as though they were comfortable city residents; hearing this, he resolves to plot harm against them.