महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-71, verse-20

home » Scriptures Library » Mahabharata

View complete chapter

कुलीनस्य च या निन्दा वधश्चामित्रकर्शन ।
महागुणो वधो राजन्न तु निन्दा कुजीविका ॥२०॥

20. kulīnasya ca yā nindā vadhaścāmitrakarśana ,
mahāguṇo vadho rājanna tu nindā kujīvikā.

20. kulīnasya ca yā nindā vadhaḥ ca amitrakarśana
mahāguṇaḥ vadhaḥ rājan na tu nindā kujīvikā

20. O destroyer of enemies, O King, regarding the censure and death of a noble person: death is a great virtue, but censure is not, for it is a miserable way of life.

Words meanings summery:

(Scroll down for elaborated words morphology)

कुलीनस्य (kulīnasya) - of a noble person (of a noble family, of good lineage, of high birth)

च (ca) - and (and, also)

या (yā) - that which (is censure) (which, who)

निन्दा (nindā) - public censure (blame, censure, reproach, insult)

वधः (vadhaḥ) - death (of the noble person) (killing, slaying, destruction, death)

च (ca) - and (and, also)

अमित्रकर्शन (amitrakarśana) - O Arjuna (or similar hero), who weakens enemies (O destroyer of enemies)

महागुणः (mahāguṇaḥ) - a great virtue (referring to death in this context) (having great qualities, of great virtue/merit)

वधः (vadhaḥ) - death (repetition for emphasis) (killing, slaying, destruction, death)

राजन् (rājan) - O king (vocative address) (O king)

न (na) - not (not, no)

तु (tu) - but (but, on the other hand, indeed)

निन्दा (nindā) - public censure (blame, censure, reproach, insult)

कुजीविका (kujīvikā) - a miserable way of life (implied consequence of censure) (a bad livelihood, a wretched life, ignominy)

Words meanings and morphology

कुलीनस्य (kulīnasya) - of a noble person (of a noble family, of good lineage, of high birth)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of kulīna

kulīna - of noble birth, high-born, well-born

Derived from 'kula' (family)

Note: Qualifies an implied 'person'

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

या (yā) - that which (is censure) (which, who)

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of yad

yad - which, what, who, that

Note: Relative pronoun referring to 'nindā'

निन्दा (nindā) - public censure (blame, censure, reproach, insult)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of nindā

nindā - blame, censure, reproach, insult

वधः (vadhaḥ) - death (of the noble person) (killing, slaying, destruction, death)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vadha

vadha - killing, slaying, death, destruction

Derived from root 'vadh' (to strike, kill)

Root: vadh (class 1)

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

अमित्रकर्शन (amitrakarśana) - O Arjuna (or similar hero), who weakens enemies (O destroyer of enemies)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of amitrakarśana

amitrakarśana - destroyer of enemies, reducer of foes

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (amitra+karśana)

amitra – enemy, foe
noun (masculine)
karśana – emaciating, weakening, destroying
noun (masculine)
Agent noun/Adjective
Derived from root 'kṛś' (to make thin, weaken)
Root: kṛś (class 1)

Note: An epithet for the listener, usually a warrior like Arjuna.

महागुणः (mahāguṇaḥ) - a great virtue (referring to death in this context) (having great qualities, of great virtue/merit)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mahāguṇa

mahāguṇa - having great qualities, of great virtue, excellent

Compound type : bahuvrīhi or karmadhāraya (mahā+guṇa)