Shloka 7
द्रोणसेनापत्यं, व्यूहविन्यासः, उत्पातदर्शनं, आरम्भयुद्धम्
Droṇa’s Command, Battle-Formations, Omens, and Opening Engagement
Devanagari script
नक्षत्राणामिव शशी दितिजानामिवोशना: । श्रेष्ठ: सेनाप्रणेतृणां स नः सेनापतिर्भव
Transliteration
nakṣatrāṇām iva śaśī ditijānām ivośanāḥ | śreṣṭhaḥ senāpraṇetṝṇāṃ sa naḥ senāpatir bhava
Translation
Duryodhana says: “As the moon outshines the stars, and as Uśanā (Śukra) stands foremost among the Daityas, so are you the best among commanders. Therefore, be our commander-in-chief.” In the moral atmosphere of the war, the line reveals Duryodhana’s reliance on prestige and prowess—seeking legitimacy and victory through an eminent leader rather than through righteous conduct.
Word by Word
नक्षत्राणाम्of the stars
नक्षत्राणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
शशीthe moon
शशी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशशिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दितिजानाम्of the Daityas (sons of Diti)
दितिजानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदितिज
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
उशनाःUśanā (Śukra, the preceptor of the Asuras)
उशनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootउशनस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्रेष्ठःthe best, foremost
श्रेष्ठः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सेना-प्रणेतॄणाम्of the leaders/commanders of armies
सेना-प्रणेतॄणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसेनाप्रणेतृ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नःof us / our
नः:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Plural
सेनापतिःcommander-in-chief
सेनापतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसेनापति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भवbe (become)
भव:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormLot (Imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
दुर्योधन उवाच
Characters & Entities
D
DuryodhanaŚ
Śaśī (the Moon)N
Nakṣatras (stars/constellations)U
Uśanā (Śukra)D
Daityas (Ditijas)Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Geographic Context
Sandhi Notes