Shloka 22

Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)

Devanagari script

तदुपालम्भसंयुक्त श्रावितः किल पार्थिव:

Transliteration

tadupālambhasaṁyuktaḥ śrāvitaḥ kila pārthivaḥ

Translation

Bhishma nói: “Nghe nói vị vua ấy đã bị buộc phải nghe những lời đầy trách cứ và chê bai sắc lạnh.”

Word by Word

• तत्: that (speech/statement)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• उपालम्भ-संयुक्तः: accompanied by reproach/taunt
• उपालम्भ-संयुक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपालम्भ-संयुक्त
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• श्रावितः: was made to hear / was told
• श्रावितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रावय् (causative of श्रु)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• किल: indeed, it is said
• किल: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल

• पार्थिवः: the king
• पार्थिवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• pārthiva (a king/ruler)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Speech that carries reproach (upālambha) can function as moral correction for a ruler, but it also warns that counsel mixed with blame tests patience and discernment; a king should respond with dharmic restraint rather than anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma reports that a certain king was confronted with (or made to listen to) a reprimanding message—words explicitly joined with censure—indicating a moment of admonition or diplomatic/moral pressure within the unfolding conflict.