Shloka 14

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Bereavement and the Averted Assault on Bhīma (Āyasī Pratimā Episode)

Devanagari script

ते हि शूरा महेष्वासा: क्षिप्रमेष्यन्ति पाण्डवा: । अमर्षवशमापन्ना वैरं प्रतिजिहीर्षव:,“क्योंकि अमर्षमें भरे हुए वे महाधनुर्धर वीर पाण्डव वैरका बदला लेनेकी इच्छासे शीघ्र यहाँ आयेंगे

Transliteration

te hi śūrā maheṣvāsāḥ kṣipram eṣyanti pāṇḍavāḥ | amarṣavaśam āpannā vairaṁ pratijihīrṣavaḥ ||

Translation

For those Pāṇḍavas are heroic and mighty archers. Overpowered by indignation and intent on exacting vengeance for the enmity done to them, they will come here swiftly.

Word by Word

तेthey (those)

हिindeed/for

शूराःheroes, brave men

महेष्वासाःgreat bowmen (mighty-archers)

क्षिप्रम्quickly, soon

एष्यन्तिwill come

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

अमर्ष-वशम्under the sway of anger/indignation

आपन्नाःhaving fallen into, having come under

वैरम्enmity, feud

प्रतिजिहीर्षवःdesiring to take back/avenge, intent on retaliation

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how unchecked indignation (amarṣa) drives even noble warriors toward retaliation. In the ethical atmosphere of the Strī-parvan—where lamentation and the cost of violence are foregrounded—it implicitly warns that the momentum of vengeance perpetuates further suffering, even when framed as kṣatriya requital.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana states that the Pāṇḍavas—renowned as great archers—will soon arrive, stirred by anger and determined to exact revenge. The line functions as a forewarning of imminent confrontation in the aftermath of the war’s devastation.