Shloka 37

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

ब्रवीतु वदतां श्रेष्ठो निशा समभिवर्तते । ततः सेनापतिं कृत्वा कृष्णस्य वशवर्तिन:

Transliteration

bravītu vadatāṁ śreṣṭho niśā samabhivartate | tataḥ senāpatiṁ kṛtvā kṛṣṇasya vaśavartinaḥ ||

Translation

Let the best among speakers speak, for night is drawing on. Then, having appointed a commander, we shall act under Kṛṣṇa’s direction—proceeding after the night has passed to the customary consecrations of arms, protective rites, and auspicious ceremonies—so that our march to the battlefield is guided by disciplined order and rightful counsel rather than haste.

Word by Word

• ब्रवीतु: let (him) speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• वदताम्: of those who speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine/neuter (genitive plural form), genitive, plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• निशा: night
• निशा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• समभिवर्तते: approaches/comes on
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), 3, singular, आत्मनेपद

• ततः: then/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रत्यय)

• सेनापतिम्: commander of the army
• सेनापतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• कृत्वा: having made/after appointing
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• वशवर्तिनः: being under (his) control/obedient to (him)
• वशवर्तिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

युधिषछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Kṛṣṇa
• senāpati (commander-in-chief)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even on the brink of war, action should be guided by orderly procedure, auspicious preparation, and submission to wise counsel—here, placing the campaign under Kṛṣṇa’s direction rather than acting impulsively.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira urges Kṛṣṇa, regarded as the foremost counselor, to state his view because night is falling; he then outlines the plan to appoint a commander and, after completing customary rites and preparations, proceed to the battlefield under Kṛṣṇa’s guidance.