Shloka 64

गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

तन्मात्रमपि तन्महां न ददाति पुरा भवान्‌ | स कथं पृथिवीमेतां प्रददासि विशाम्पते

Transliteration

tanmātram api tan mahān na dadāti purā bhavān | sa kathaṁ pṛthivīm etāṁ pradadāsi viśāmpate ||

Translation

玉提湿陀罗说道：“从前你虽如此强盛，也不肯给我哪怕那一点点——微不足道的一份。噢，万民之主，今日你怎会提出要把这整片大地都赠与我？”

Word by Word

• तत्: that (much/that thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मात्रम्: only, mere measure
• मात्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• तत्: that (much)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महान्: great (one)
• महान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ददाति: gives
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पुरा: formerly, earlier
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he/that (therefore)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• एताम्: this
• एताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रददासि: you give/grant
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा
• Form: Present, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विशाम्: of the people/subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• viśāmpati (lord/king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical scrutiny of sudden generosity after prior refusal: true righteousness in kingship is measured by consistent justice and fair dealing, not by dramatic offers made under changed circumstances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira challenges a ruler’s reversal: earlier he would not concede even a tiny share, yet now he proposes granting the whole earth. The question exposes the moral and political tension behind such a change of stance.