Shloka 18

Devanagari script

समप्रमाणान्‌ पाण्डूनां समवीर्यान्‌ मदोत्कटान्‌ | सौभद्रंं च महेष्वासममरैरपि दुःसहम्‌

Transliteration

samapramāṇān pāṇḍūnāṃ samavīryān madotkaṭān | saubhadraṃ ca maheṣvāsaṃ amarair api duḥsaham ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “(They saw) the sons of Pāṇḍu—equal in stature, equal in prowess, and fierce in their proud ardor—and also Saubhadra, that great archer, formidable even to the immortals.”

Word by Word

• समप्रमाणान्: of equal stature/measure
• समप्रमाणान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समप्रमाण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पाण्डूनाम्: of the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डूनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• समवीर्यान्: of equal prowess
• समवीर्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समवीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मदोत्कटान्: arrogant/overbearing with pride
• मदोत्कटान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदोत्कट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सौभद्रम्: Abhimanyu (son of Subhadrā)
• सौभद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभद्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महेष्वासम्: great bowman
• महेष्वासम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अमरैः: by the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• दुःसहम्: hard to endure/irresistible
• दुःसहम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःसह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pāṇḍu)
• Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)
• Amaras (gods/immortals)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the formidable capability of the righteous side’s warriors: excellence and unity in strength can make a force “unendurable,” yet the mention of pride (mada) also hints at the ethical need for self-restraint even amid justified power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the Pāṇḍavas as evenly matched in stature and valor, and singles out Abhimanyu (Saubhadra) as a great archer whose might is portrayed as daunting even to the gods—building the atmosphere of impending conflict in the Udyoga Parva.