Shloka 141

Devanagari script

ततः सम्भूय विबुधास्तान्‌ हन्तुं कृतनिश्चया: । चक्कुः शत्रुवधे यत्नं न शेकुर्जेतुमेव तान्‌,तब सम्पूर्ण देवताओंने एकत्र हो उन्हें मारनेका निश्चय करके शत्रुओंके वधके लिये यत्न किया; परंतु वे उन्हें जीत न सके

Transliteration

tataḥ sambhūya vibudhās tān hantuṁ kṛtaniścayāḥ | cakruḥ śatruvadhe yatnaṁ na śekuḥ jetum eva tān ||

Translation

Then the gods assembled together, resolved to slay them, and strove for the destruction of the foe; yet they were unable to conquer them at all.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

सम्भूयhaving assembled, having come together

विबुधाःthe gods, the wise/learned ones

तान्them

हन्तुम्to kill, to slay

कृतनिश्चयाःhaving made a resolve; determined

चक्रुःthey did/made

शत्रुवधेin/for the slaying of the enemy

यत्नम्effort

नnot

शेकुःthey were able

जेतुम्to conquer

एवindeed, just

तान्them

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

विबुधाः (the gods)

श

शत्रु (the enemy)

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 limits of sheer might: even divine forces may fail when confronted by extraordinary resolve and the momentum of destiny. It implies that outcomes in war are shaped not only by power but also by fate, moral forces, and unwavering determination.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana describes a moment where the gods themselves unite with the intention to kill certain opponents and strive to destroy the enemy, but they cannot defeat them—emphasizing the formidable, seemingly unconquerable nature of those being opposed.