Mahabharata — Ashramavasika Parva, Shloka 27

अश्रमवासिनां विषादः — Lament in Hastināpura after the Elders’ Forest Withdrawal

Devanagari script

अपापा: पाण्डवा येन निकृता: पापबुद्धिना

Transliteration

apāpāḥ pāṇḍavā yena nikṛtāḥ pāpabuddhinā

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Ang mga Pāṇḍava—mga lalaking walang sala—ay nilinlang at inapi ng isang taong ang isip ay lubog sa masamang hangarin.

Word by Word

• अपापाः: sinless, guiltless
• अपापाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपाप (अ- + पाप)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• येन: by whom; by which
• येन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• निकृताः: deceived, wronged, injured
• निकृताः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + कृ (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पापबुद्धिना: by (one) of sinful mind; by a wicked-minded (person)
• पापबुद्धिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापबुद्धि (पाप + बुद्धि)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.