Shloka 13

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

वेद चास्त्रं भरद्वाजाद्‌ दुर्धर्ष: सत्यसड्गर: । यो नित्यं स्पर्धते द्रोणं भीष्मं चैव महाबलम्‌

Transliteration

veda cāstraṃ bharadvājād durdharṣaḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ | yo nityaṃ spardhate droṇaṃ bhīṣmaṃ caiva mahābalam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Von Bharadvāja erlernte er den Veda und die Waffenlehre. Unbezwingbar und standhaft im wahrhaftigen Kampf, forderte er immer wieder Droṇa und den hochgewaltigen Bhīṣma heraus—ein Zeichen kriegerischer, disziplinierter Zuversicht und des ethischen Ideals, selbst den größten Gegnern ohne Trug und ohne Rückzug zu begegnen.

Word by Word

वेदknows

चand

अस्त्रम्weapon (missile-weapon)

भरद्वाजात्from Bharadvāja

दुर्धर्षःhard to assail, unassailable

सत्यसङ्गरःtrue to his battle-vow (one whose combat is truthful/steadfast)

यःwho

नित्यम्always

स्पर्धतेcompetes (with), challenges

द्रोणम्Droṇa

भीष्मम्Bhīṣma

चand

एवindeed, just

महाबलम्very strong (mighty)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bharadvāja

Droṇa

Bhīṣma

Veda

Astra (weapon-science)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of disciplined strength grounded in learning (Veda and martial science) and ethical conduct in conflict—'truthful battle' (satyasaṅgara), where courage is expressed through fair challenge rather than deceit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a formidable warrior who, having been trained by Bharadvāja in sacred and martial knowledge, repeatedly measures himself against the foremost masters of war—Droṇa and Bhīṣma—emphasizing his prowess and fearless competitiveness.