Shloka 13

Devanagari script

तेन द्वारेण शत्रुभ्य: क्षीयते सबलो रिपु:,प्रमादरूप छिद्रके कारण बलवान शत्रु भी अपने शत्रुओंद्वारा मारा जाता है

Transliteration

tena dvāreṇa śatrubhyaḥ kṣīyate sa-balo ripuḥ | pramāda-rūpa-chidrake kāraṇāt balavān śatruḥ api sva-śatrubhiḥ māryate ||

Translation

Through that very ‘doorway’ (a breach), even an enemy who possesses strength and support is worn down by his foes. For negligence itself becomes a gap; because of such a flaw, even a powerful adversary is brought to ruin—slain by his own enemies.

Word by Word

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• द्वारेण: by the door/means (opening)
• द्वारेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शत्रुभ्यः: from enemies
• शत्रुभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• क्षीयते: perishes / is destroyed / wastes away
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षि (क्षीयते)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive/Medial (intransitive sense)

• सबलः: strong, with forces
• सबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रिपुः: enemy (foe)
• रिपुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• enemy (ripu/śatru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Negligence (pramāda) creates a ‘breach’ (chidra) through which even a strong, well-supported opponent can be weakened and destroyed; vigilance is an ethical and strategic necessity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna states a general principle of conflict and governance: enemies exploit openings caused by carelessness, so a powerful rival can still be overcome if he becomes negligent.