Mahabharata · 7.169.18–19
॥
Devanāgarī
पाञ्चालाश् चलिता धर्मात् क्षुद्रा मित्रगुरुद्रुहः ॥
त्वां प्राप्य सहसोदर्यं धिक्कृतं सर्वसाधुभिः ॥
पुनश् चेद् ईदृशीं वाचं मत्समीपे वदिष्यसि ॥
शिरस् ते पातयिष्यामि गदया वज्रकल्पया ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pāñcālāś calitā dharmāt kṣudrā mitragurudruhaḥ ||
tvāṃ prāpya sahasodaryaṃ dhikkṛtaṃ sarvasādhubhiḥ ||
punaś ced īdṛśīṃ vācaṃ matsamīpe vadiṣyasi ||
śiras te pātayiṣyāmi gadayā vajrakalpayā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
पाञ्चालाः चलिताः धर्मात्pāñcālāḥ calitāḥ dharmātthe Panchalas have fallen from dharma; the Panchalas have strayed from dharma
क्षुद्राः मित्रगुरुद्रुहःkṣudrāḥ mitragurudruhaḥbase, betrayers of friends and gurus; base, betrayers of friends and gurus
त्वाम् प्राप्य सहसोदर्यम्tvām prāpya sahasodaryamhaving gotten you together with your brother; having gotten you together with your brother
धिक्कृतम् सर्वसाधुभिःdhikkṛtam sarvasādhubhiḥscorned by all the virtuous; reviled by all the virtuous
पुनः चेत् ईदृशीम् वाचम्punaḥ cet īdṛśīm vācamand if again such a word; and if once more such a word
मत्समीपे वदिष्यसिmatsamīpe vadiṣyasiyou speak in my presence; you utter close to me
शिरः ते पातयिष्यामिśiraḥ te pātayiṣyāmiI will fell your head; I will strike off your head
गदया वज्रकल्पयाgadayā vajrakalpayāwith a mace like the vajra; with a mace resembling the vajra
Translation
'The Panchalas have fallen from dharma, base, betrayers of friends and gurus, having gotten you together with your brother, reviled by all the virtuous. And if you speak such a word again in my presence, I will strike off your head with a mace like the vajra.'
Version
8c2da9235f00 · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:08:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Satyaki moves from words to the threat of the mace: the dispute over dharma threatens to turn into bloodshed among allies. It is telling that the quarrel flares up within their own camp, on the very brink of a new battle — fury does not distinguish friend from foe. The verse teaches that unassuaged anger destroys one's own side first; and where comrades, unable to cool down, raise weapons against each other, the enemy defeats them before they even meet in battle.