Mahabharata — Udyoga Parva, Shloka 15
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)
Devanagari script
द्रौपद्याश्व॒ परिक्लेशं द्यूते च परुषा गिर:
Transliteration
drau-padyāś ca parikleśaṃ dyūte ca paruṣā giraḥ
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“（我仍记得）德罗帕蒂所受的沉重苦难，以及在掷骰之殿里说出的那些刻薄伤人的言辞。”
Word by Word
द्रौपद्याःof Draupadī
द्रौपद्याः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootद्रौपदी
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
परिक्लेशम्affliction, distress
परिक्लेशम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपरिक्लेश
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
द्यूतेin the dice-game
द्यूते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootद्यूत
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
परुषाःharsh, cruel
परुषाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपरुष
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
गिरःwords, speeches
गिरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगिर्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaD
DraupadīD
dyūta (the dice-game / gambling hall episode)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Cruelty is not only in physical acts but also in speech; harsh words and public humiliation—especially in an unjust setting like the dice-game—constitute a grave adharma that corrodes social order and leads to wider catastrophe.
Bhīṣma recalls the dice-game episode, highlighting Draupadī’s suffering and the harsh words spoken there, as part of a moral reckoning in the lead-up to war—pointing to past wrongs that demand accountability.