Shloka 22

द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय 128: दुर्योधनस्य परसेनाप्रवेशः

Duryodhana’s Incursion and the Tumult of Battle

Devanagari script

यस्य बाहुबलं सर्वे समाश्रित्य महात्मन: । वनवासान्निवृत्ता: सम न च युद्धेषु निर्जिता:,“इस महामनस्वी वीरके बाहुबलका आश्रय लेकर हम सब भाई वनवाससे सकुशल लौटे हैं और युद्धोंमें कभी पराजित नहीं हुए हैं

Transliteration

yasya bāhubalaṃ sarve samāśritya mahātmanaḥ | vanavāsān nivṛttāḥ sma na ca yuddheṣu nirjitāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Relying upon the mighty strength of that great-souled hero’s arms, we all returned safely from our exile in the forest, and in battles we were never defeated.

Word by Word

यस्यwhose

बाहुबलम्strength of (his) arms

सर्वेall (of us)

समाश्रित्यhaving taken refuge in / relying on

महात्मनःof the great-souled (hero)

वनवासात्from exile in the forest

निवृत्ताःreturned / having come back

स्मindeed / (past-tense particle)

नnot

चand

युद्धेषुin battles

निर्जिताःdefeated / conquered (i.e., having been defeated)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

the great-souled hero (unnamed in this verse)

we/all of us (collective group)

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 underscores the ethical and social reality of reliance on a capable protector: collective safety and success are attributed to the steadfast strength of a single great-souled leader, implying gratitude, loyalty, and the responsibility that accompanies power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a boastful or affirming recollection: the group claims they endured forest exile and returned unharmed, and that they have not been defeated in battles—crediting these outcomes to the arm-strength of a renowned hero on whom they depended.