Shloka 40

Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ

Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit

Devanagari script

न कालोउद्य विषादस्य भयस्य मरणस्य वा | परिष्वज्याब्रवीच्चैनं भुजाभ्यां स महाभुज:,“यह समय शोक मनाने, भयभीत होने अथवा मरनेका नहीं है", यह कहकर महाबाहु कर्णने दोनों भुजाओंसे खींचकर दुर्योधनको हृदयसे लगा लिया और कहा--

Transliteration

na kālodya viṣādasya bhayasya maraṇasya vā | pariṣvajyābravīc cainaṃ bhujābhyāṃ sa mahābhujaḥ |

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：“此刻不是悲伤之时，不是恐惧之时，也不是求死之时。”说罢，臂力雄伟的迦尔纳以双臂将难敌（杜尤陀那）拉近，紧抱在胸前，继而开口——以稳住其心志，激起临危之勇。

Word by Word

नnot

कालःtime

उद्यnow/at present (particle)

विषादस्यof grief/despondency

भयस्यof fear

मरणस्यof death/dying

वाor

परिष्वज्यhaving embraced

अब्रवीत्said/spoke

चand

एनम्him

भुजाभ्याम्with (his) two arms

सःhe

महाभुजःthe mighty-armed one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Karṇa

Duryodhana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes timely conduct: in moments demanding action and steadiness, one should not surrender to grief or fear. It models leadership through reassurance—strengthening another’s mind so duty and resolve can prevail over despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Karṇa physically embraces Duryodhana and verbally consoles him, declaring that the present moment is not meant for lamentation, fear, or thoughts of death—an attempt to restore Duryodhana’s courage and determination.