Shloka 53

Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds

Devanagari script

क्षत्रंजय: क्षत्रदेव: क्षत्रवर्मा च मानद: । धृष्टद्युम्नात्मजा वीरा: के तान्‌ द्रोणादवारयन्‌,क्षत्रंजय, क्षत्रदेव तथा दूसरोंको मान देनेवाले क्षत्रवर्मा--ये धृष्टद्युम्नके तीन वीर पुत्र हैं। उन्हें द्रोणके पास आनेसे किन वीरोंने रोका था?

Transliteration

kṣatraṃjayaḥ kṣatradevaḥ kṣatravarmā ca mānadaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnātmajā vīrāḥ ke tān droṇād avārayan |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Kṣatraṃjaya, Kṣatradeva, and Kṣatravarmā—renowned as one who honors others—these are the three heroic sons of Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Which warriors held them back, preventing them from reaching Droṇa?”

Word by Word

क्षत्रंजयःKṣatrañjaya (proper name)

क्षत्रदेवःKṣatradeva (proper name)

क्षत्रवर्माKṣatravarman (proper name)

चand

मानदःhonour-giving; respectful

धृष्टद्युम्नात्मजाःsons of Dhṛṣṭadyumna

वीराःheroes, brave men

केwhich (ones)? who?

तान्those (them)

द्रोणात्from Droṇa

अवारयन्prevented, held back

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Droṇa

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Kṣatraṃjaya

Kṣatradeva

Kṣatravarmā

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: valor is inseparable from disciplined resistance and strategic obstruction in battle. Even heroic lineage and personal honor (mānada) operate within the larger ethical frame of duty-bound warfare, where preventing an opponent from reaching a key commander is a legitimate martial responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana identifies three sons of Dhṛṣṭadyumna—Kṣatraṃjaya, Kṣatradeva, and Kṣatravarmā—and asks which warriors blocked them, stopping them from approaching Droṇa. The line functions as a transition into naming the defenders/obstructors in the ongoing battle episode.