Mahabharata 7.81.54 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 81, Shloka 54

Yudhiṣṭhira–Droṇa Saṃgrāma

Engagement and Countermeasures

Devanagari script

भक्‍त्या स्तवेन दिव्येन महात्मानावनिन्दितो

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | bhaktyā staven divyena mahātmānāv aninditaḥ, bhagavān śaṅkara- | iyaṃ bāt sunakar anindita mahātmā paramabuddhimān śrīkṛṣṇa aur arjuna hātha joṛakar khaṛe ho gaye aur divya stotradvārā bhaktibhāv se un bhagavān śiv kī stuti karane lage |

Translation

قال سانجيا: لما سمعا تلك الكلمات في شأن الربّ المبارك شانكارا، وقف شري كريشنا وأرجونا—وهما بريئان من العيب، عظيمَا الروح، بالغا الحكمة—وقد ضمّا الكفّين، وشرعا يمدحان ذلك الربّ شيفا بترنيمةٍ إلهيةٍ مفعمةٍ بالعبادة. ويُبرز المشهد أنّه حتى في أتون الحرب تبقى الهيبة والتواضع أمام الإله خُلُقًا هاديًا.

Word by Word

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• स्तवेन: with a hymn/praise
• स्तवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दिव्येन: divine
• दिव्येन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महात्मानौ: the two great-souled ones (Krishna and Arjuna)
• महात्मानौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अनिन्दितौ: blameless
• अनिन्दितौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिन्दित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Śiva (Śaṅkara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that devotion and humility before the divine are integral to dharma, even in the midst of conflict. Great heroes do not rely solely on strength; they seek alignment with higher righteousness through reverent praise and prayer.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya narrates that after hearing words about Lord Śiva (Śaṅkara), Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna stand with folded hands and begin to offer a divine hymn of praise to Śiva, signaling a turn toward seeking divine support and guidance during the war.