Shloka 22
Devanagari script
दिवि शक्रमिव श्रेष्ठ महामात्र धनुर्भुताम्
Transliteration
divi śakram iva śreṣṭha mahāmātra dhanurbhutām
Translation
Dhṛtarāṣṭra compares a foremost warrior—an eminent commander among archers—to Indra in heaven, highlighting the awe such martial excellence inspires even amid the moral darkness of war.
Word by Word
दिविin heaven
दिवि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदिव्
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
शक्रम्Indra
शक्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशक्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
श्रेष्ठम्the best, excellent
श्रेष्ठम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महामात्रम्a great officer/commander
महामात्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहामात्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
धनुर्भृताम्of the bow-bearers (archers)
धनुर्भृताम्:
TypeNoun
Rootधनुर्धर/धनुर्भृत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
Speaker
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Characters & Entities
D
DhṛtarāṣṭraŚ
Śakra (Indra)B
bow (dhanus)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
The line underscores how worldly power and martial brilliance can appear godlike, yet such admiration in a war setting invites reflection on dharma: excellence in arms is impressive, but ethical judgment must not be eclipsed by mere splendor.
In the Drona Parva’s war narration, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reacts to reports of battlefield prowess by praising a leading commander among archers, likening him to Indra in heaven to convey extraordinary stature and dominance.