Shloka 21

Adhyāya 195 — Arjuna’s Capability and Restraint Regarding Divyāstras

Udyoga Parva

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरो यत्र सैन्ये स्वयमेव बलार्णवे । तत्र ते पृथिवीपाला भूयिष्ठ॑ पर्यवस्थिता:

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhiro yatra sainye svayam eva balārṇave | tatra te pṛthivīpālā bhūyiṣṭhaḥ paryavasthitāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Where Yudhiṣṭhira himself stood amid the army—like an ocean of strength—there the kings of the earth were gathered in greatest number, taking up their positions around him. The scene shows how rightful leadership and dharmic legitimacy draw allies, even as war draws near.

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• सैन्ये: in the army
• सैन्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• बलार्णवे: in the ocean of forces (vast host)
• बलार्णवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलार्णव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• ते: those/they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पृथिवीपालाः: kings (protectors of the earth)
• पृथिवीपालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भूयिष्ठम्: mostly/for the most part
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयिष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पर्यवस्थिताः: were stationed/arrayed
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-अव-स्था
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle), Passive (participial)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• pṛthivīpālāḥ (kings/rulers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical-political idea that dharmic authority and steady leadership attract support: many rulers choose to stand where Yudhiṣṭhira is present, suggesting confidence in his legitimacy and conduct even as conflict approaches.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the military array: Yudhiṣṭhira is positioned within the Pāṇḍava host, likened to an ocean of power, and numerous kings assemble and take their stations around him, indicating a concentration of allied rulers at his side.