Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 19

Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana

The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint

Devanagari script

यस्त्रयोदशवर्षाणि गदया कृतनिश्रम: । चरत्यूर्थध्व च तिर्यक्‌ू च भीमसेनजिघांसया

Transliteration

yas trayodaśa-varṣāṇi gadayā kṛta-niśramaḥ | caraty ūrdhvaṃ ca tiryak ca bhīmasena-jighāṃsayā ||

Translation

قال فايُو: «ثلاث عشرة سنةً وهو يكدح بلا انقطاع ويتدرّب على قتال الصولجان. والآن، مدفوعًا برغبة قتل بهيماسينا، يطوف—يصعد ويتحرك جانبًا—يلتمس ثغرةً ينفذ منها.»

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रयोदश: thirteen
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदश
• Form: —, —, —

• वर्षाणि: years (for a period)
• वर्षाणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• गदया: with a mace
• गदया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• कृत: done, performed
• Type: Adjective/Participle
• Root: कृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निश्रमः: continuous exertion/practice
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चरति: moves about, roams
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तिर्यक्: sideways, obliquely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिर्यक्

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भीमसेन: of Bhimasena
• Type: Proper Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• जिघांसया: with the desire to kill
• जिघांसया: Karana
• Type: Noun (action/intent)
• Root: हन् (जिघांसु/जिघांसया from desiderative base जिघांस्)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• gadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how long discipline and technical mastery in warfare can be driven by inner intention; here, sustained practice is harnessed not for protection of dharma but for a targeted, violent resolve, underscoring the ethical weight of motive behind skill.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu describes a warrior who has trained continuously with the mace for thirteen years and is now maneuvering—moving upward and sideways—seeking a chance to kill Bhīmasena.