Shloka 109

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियप्रवरो लोके नित्यं शूराभिसत्कृत: । कि त्वस्य युध्यमानस्य संग्रामे क्षत्रियर्षभ:

Transliteration

kṣatriyapravaro loke nityaṁ śūrābhisatkṛtaḥ | ki tv asya yudhyamānasya saṅgrāme kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „In der Welt ist er als der vornehmste der Kṣatriyas berühmt, stets geehrt unter den Tapferen. Doch wenn er mitten im Kampfgetümmel streitet — was wird dann aus diesem Stier unter den Kṣatriyas?“

Word by Word

क्षत्रियप्रवरःthe foremost among Kshatriyas

लोकेin the world

नित्यम्always

शूराभिसत्कृतःhonoured/respected by heroes (the brave)

किम्but/indeed (interrogative particle: 'what then')

तुhowever/but

अस्यof him/of this (his)

युध्यमानस्यof (him) fighting

संग्रामेin battle

क्षत्रियर्षभःthe bull among Kshatriyas (best of warriors)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of public honor and recognized valor, while also questioning how that reputation stands the test of real combat—implying that true worth is proven in action, not merely in acclaim.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating the battlefield events, points to a warrior famed as a leading kṣatriya and continually honored among heroes, then raises a pointed question about his condition or outcome as he is actively fighting in the battle.