Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अक्षौहिणीभ्रि: शिष्टाभिननवभिरद्द्धिजसत्तम: । संवृत: समरश्लाघी गुप्त: कृपवृषादिभि:,उस समय मरनेसे बची हुई नौ अक्षौहिणी सेना उन्हें सब ओरसे घेरकर खड़ी थी। वे स्वयं तो युद्धका हौसला रखते ही थे, कृपाचार्य और कर्ण भी सदा उनकी रक्षा करते रहते थे

Transliteration

akṣauhiṇībhiḥ śiṣṭābhir navabhir ṛddhijasattamaḥ | saṃvṛtaḥ samarāślāghī guptaḥ kṛpavṛṣādibhiḥ ||

Translation

Vāsudeva said: “That foremost among the prosperous was hemmed in on every side by the nine akṣauhiṇīs that still remained. Though he himself was eager for battle and took pride in the contest, he was continually protected by Kṛpa and by Vṛṣa (Karna) and others.”

Word by Word

अक्षौहिणीभिःby/with (the) akṣauhiṇī armies

शिष्टाभिःremaining, left over

नवभिःby nine

अद्धिजसत्तमःthe best of the descendants of Aditi (i.e., Indra)

संवृतःsurrounded, enclosed

समरश्लाघीglorying in battle, battle-proud

गुप्तःprotected, guarded

कृपवृषादिभिःby Kripa, Vṛṣa (Karna) and others

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)

Vṛṣa (Karna)

nine akṣauhiṇīs (armies)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the epic tension between personal valor and the practical need for protection and support: even a battle-proud hero depends on allies and guardians. It implicitly critiques mere martial pride (āślāgha) by showing that strength in war is collective and contingent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva describes a warrior of great fortune being surrounded by the nine remaining military divisions. Although the warrior is eager for combat, he is kept safe by seasoned protectors—Kṛpācārya and Karṇa (called Vṛṣa) among others—indicating a guarded formation around him.