Shloka 22

Devanagari script

स समर्थो महाप्राज्ञस्तव युद्धविशारदः।द्वन्द्वयुद्धं महद्दातुं नमुचेरिव वासवः4.11.22।।

Transliteration

sa samartho mahāprājñaḥ tava yuddha-viśāradaḥ |

dvandva-yuddhaṃ mahad dātuṃ namucer iva vāsavaḥ || 4.11.22 ||

Translation

Er ist tüchtig, hochweise und im Krieg bewandert; er vermag eine große Herausforderung zum Zweikampf zu geben, wie einst Vāsava (Indra) dem Namuci.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• samarthaḥ: capable
• samarthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahā-prājñaḥ: very wise
• mahā-prājñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tava: of/for you
• tava: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, षष्ठी

• yuddha-viśāradaḥ: expert in warfare
• yuddha-viśāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'युद्धे विशारदः' (expert in war)

• dvandva-yuddham: a duel
• dvandva-yuddham: Karma (कर्म/Object of dātum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvandva (प्रातिपदिक) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'द्वन्द्वं युद्धम्' (single combat)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of dvandva-yuddham)

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive): 'to give'

• namuceḥ: of Namuci
• namuceḥ: Upamana-sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्धः/Genitive of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle: 'like')

• vāsavaḥ: Indra
• vāsavaḥ: Upamana (उपमानम्/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्द्र-नाम

Context

'Vali is profoundly wise, an expert in warfare. He is capable of challenging you to a duel like Indra to Namuchi.

Characters & Entities

• Vali
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Namuchi

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is framed as realism in righteous action: one should recognize an opponent’s true capacity before choosing a course that risks unjust harm or futile conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker cautions the listener by highlighting Vali’s battle-mastery, using an Indra–Namuchi comparison to convey the seriousness of a duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial competence guided by intelligence—skill in war is paired with strategic awareness.