Shloka 43

Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion

Bṛhannadā/Arjuna

Devanagari script

उभौ विश्लुतकर्माणावुभौ तीव्रपराक्रमौ । उभौ सदृशकर्माणावुभौ युधि सुददुर्जयौ,“दोनों वीर अपने अदभुत कार्योके लिये संसारमें प्रसिद्ध हैं। दोनोंके पराक्रम उग्र हैं। दोनों एक-सा पराक्रम दिखानेवाले तथा युद्धमें अत्यन्त दुर्जय हैं!

Transliteration

ubhau viślutakarmāṇāv ubhau tīvraparākramau | ubhau sadṛśakarmāṇāv ubhau yudhi sudurjayau ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Beide sind in der Welt berühmt für ihre außergewöhnlichen Taten; beide besitzen wilden Mut. Gleich an Tat und Kraft, sind sie im Kampf überaus schwer zu bezwingen — ein ebenbürtiges Aufeinandertreffen, das die Grenzen des Krieger-Dharma erprobt.

Word by Word

उभौboth (two persons)

विश्लुतकर्माणौrenowned for deeds (of famed actions)

उभौboth

तीव्रपराक्रमौof fierce valor

उभौboth

सदृशकर्माणौhaving similar deeds

उभौboth

युधिin battle

सुदुर्जयौvery hard to conquer

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of recognizing merit even in an opponent: true kṣātra-dharma (warrior conduct) includes honest appraisal of valor and deeds, acknowledging equality and difficulty of victory without arrogance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes two combatants as evenly matched—both famed for extraordinary deeds and fierce prowess—setting the tone for a tense confrontation where neither side can easily prevail.