Shloka 19

Bhīmasena’s Discourse on Kāla, Resolve, and the Feasibility of Ajñātavāsa (भीमसेनस्य कालोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

अनिर्जित्य रणे सवनितान्‌ पुरुषसत्तमान्‌ । अशक्यो हासहायेन हन्तुं दुर्योधनस्त्वया,इन समस्त वीर पुरुषोंको युद्धमें परास्त किये बिना तुम अकेले दुर्योधनको नहीं मार सकते

Transliteration

anirjitya raṇe sa-sainikān puruṣa-sattamān | aśakyo hi asahāyena hantuṃ duryodhanas tvayā ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Ohne zuvor jene Besten der Männer samt ihren Heeren in der Schlacht zu besiegen, ist es dir — allein und ohne Verbündete — nicht möglich, Duryodhana zu töten.“

Word by Word

अनिर्जित्यwithout conquering/defeating

रणेin battle

सवनितान्together with their followers/attendants

पुरुषसत्तमान्the best of men

अशक्यःimpossible

हindeed/for emphasis

असहायेनwithout an ally; alone

हन्तुम्to kill

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

त्वयाby you

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Duryodhana

puruṣa-sattamāḥ (foremost warriors)

sainika (troops)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Heroism must be guided by dharma and practical wisdom: major aims in war cannot be achieved by isolated action; one must first address the surrounding forces and act with appropriate support rather than reckless lone violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira cautions a would-be avenger that Duryodhana cannot be slain by a solitary attempt; the enemy is protected by many eminent warriors and their armies, so the situation demands broader victory and coordinated effort.