Shloka 1453

कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line

Devanagari script

निहन्तुं दानवान्‌ सर्वान्‌ कृतास्त्रान्‌ युद्धदुर्मदान्‌ । परशुराम बोले--देवेश्वर! मैं तो अस्त्रविद्याका ज्ञाता नहीं हूँ। फिर युद्धस्थलमें अस्त्रविद्याके ज्ञाता तथा रणदुर्मद समस्त दानवोंका वध करनेके लिये मुझमें क्या शक्ति है?

Transliteration

nihantuṁ dānavān sarvān kṛtāstrān yuddha-durmadān |

Translation

Rāma said: “How could I possibly slay all the Dānavas—those who are fully trained in weaponry and intoxicated with the arrogance of battle?” In this utterance, he foregrounds humility and realism: moral intent alone is not enough in war; competence and rightful capacity are also required before undertaking violent action.

Word by Word

निहन्तुम्to slay

दानवान्demons (Dānavas)

सर्वान्all

कृतास्त्रान्those who have prepared/possess weapons (armed)

युद्धदुर्मदान्arrogant/maddened in battle

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Dānavas

Astra (weapon/missile-weapons)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes