Shloka 28

धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa

Devanagari script

केक्यैश्रेदिकारूषैर्मस्स्यैरन्यैश्व भूमिपै: । व्याकुलीकृतमाचार्य पिपीलैरुरगं यथा

Transliteration

kekyaiś cedikārūṣair matsyair anyaiś ca bhūmipaiḥ | vyākulīkṛtam ācārya pipīlair uragaṃ yathā ||

Translation

持国王说道：“噢，阿阇梨！你被羯迦耶、支提、迦卢沙、摩蹉以及其他诸王搅得纷乱不安，正如群蚁蜂拥，骚扰撩拨一条大蛇一般。”

Word by Word

• केक्यैः: by the Kekayas
• केक्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रेदिकारूषैः: by the Redikas and Karushas
• रेदिकारूषैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेदिक + कारूष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मत्स्यैः: by the Matsyas
• मत्स्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अन्यैः: by other (kings)
• अन्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भूमिपैः: by kings (lords of the earth)
• भूमिपैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• व्याकुलीकृतम्: made agitated/disturbed
• व्याकुलीकृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकुली-कृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आचार्यम्: the teacher (Drona)
• आचार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पिपीलैः: by ants
• पिपीलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिपील
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उरगम्: a serpent
• उरगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: as/just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Droṇa (Ācārya)
• Kekaya
• Cedi
• Kāruṣa
• Matsya (Virāṭa’s realm/people)
• kings (bhūmipāḥ)
• serpent (uraga)
• ants (pipīla)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how even a great teacher-warrior can be destabilized when many opponents coordinate their pressure. Ethically, it points to the reality that power and skill must be supported by composure and strategic support; otherwise, collective force can overwhelm an individual, however formidable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes to Droṇa that multiple allied kings—Kekayas, Cedis, Kāruṣas, Matsyas, and others—have surrounded and harassed him in battle, likening Droṇa’s predicament to a serpent agitated by a swarm of ants.