Shloka 19

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरो ऽपि धर्मात्मा भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः / जितो दुर्योधनेनैव मायाद्यूतेन पापिना / कर्णदुः शासनमते स्थितेन शकुनेर्मते

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhiro 'pi dharmātmā bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ / jito duryodhanenaiva māyādyūtena pāpinā / karṇaduḥ śāsanamate sthitena śakunermate

Translation

Ngay cả Yudhiṣṭhira, bậc có tâm hồn chính pháp, dù được các huynh đệ vây quanh, vẫn bị Duryodhana đánh bại bằng cuộc cờ bạc gian trá đầy tội lỗi—thực hiện theo lời bàn của Karṇa và Duḥśāsana, dưới mưu kế của Śakuni.

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अर्थः ‘also/even’

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled (one whose nature is dharma)
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य आत्मा)

• भ्रातृभिः: by (his) brothers
• भ्रातृभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिवारितः: surrounded
• परिवारितः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘surrounded’

• जितः: defeated
• जितः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘defeated’

• दुर्योधनेन: by Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• मायाद्यूतेन: by deceitful gambling
• मायाद्यूतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया + द्यूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मायायाः द्यूतम्)

• पापिना: by the sinful (one)
• पापिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दुर्योधनस्य)

• कर्णदुःशासनमते: in the counsel/opinion of Karṇa and Duḥśāsana
• कर्णदुःशासनमते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण + दुःशासन + मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्णस्य दुःशासनस्य च मतम्)

• स्थितेन: being aligned/standing (with)
• स्थितेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त) ‘स्थित’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘being situated/abiding’

• शकुनेः: of Śakuni
• शकुनेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मते: in the opinion/counsel
• मते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Uncertain (context not provided; commonly the Garuḍa Purāṇa is a dialogue between Lord Viṣṇu and Garuḍa, but this verse is Mahābhārata-narrative in tone).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the dhārmika can be overthrown when he enters a crooked game; association with deceit and addiction-like dyūta leads to ruin.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṅga (company) shape outcomes; rājadharma requires vigilance against moha and māyā.

Application: Avoid predatory games/financial traps; keep ethical counsel; set boundaries where consent is manipulated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/sabhā

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): dyūta/adharma as causes of downfall; rājadharma admonitions in didactic sections (chapter-level parallels, not verse-identical).

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Duryodhana
• Karṇa
• Duḥśāsana
• Śakuni

FAQs

What is the importance of deceitful gambling (māyā-dyūta) in Garuḍa Purāṇa-style moral teaching?

This verse highlights māyā-dyūta—deceptive gambling—as a form of adharma that can overpower even a dharmic person when driven by manipulation and sinful intent.

How does this verse relate to the spiritual consequences of bad counsel?

By naming Karṇa, Duḥśāsana, and Śakuni’s counsel, the verse underscores that wrongdoing is amplified through corrupt advice and schemes—an ethical warning often used in Purāṇic instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid addictive or deceptive games of chance, and be vigilant about toxic influence—ethical clarity and good counsel protect one’s dharma in moments of vulnerability.