Shloka 90

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration

Sañjaya’s Report

Devanagari script

नमस्कृत्वा शान्तनवाय राज्ञे द्रोणायाथो सहपुत्राय चैव | शारद्वतायाप्रतिद्वद्धिने च योत्स्याम्यहं राज्यमभीप्समान:,“मैं शान्तनुनन्दन महाराज भीष्मको, आचार्य द्रोणको, गुरुभाई अश्वत्थामाको और जिनका सामना कोई नहीं कर सकता, उन वीरवर कृपाचार्यको भी प्रणाम करके राज्य पानेकी इच्छा लेकर अवश्य युद्ध करूँगा

Transliteration

namaskṛtvā śāntanavāya rājñe droṇāyātho sahaputrāya caiva | śāradvatāyāpratidvandvine ca yotsyāmy ahaṃ rājyam abhīpsamānaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Having bowed to King Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, to Droṇa, and also to his son, and to Śāradvata Kṛpa—who is without an equal in combat—I shall indeed fight, driven by the desire to obtain the kingdom.”

Word by Word

• {'namaskṛtvā': 'having saluted, having paid homage', 'śāntanavāya': 'to the son/descendant of Śāntanu (Bhīṣma)', 'rājñe': 'to the king (dative singular)', 'droṇāya': 'to Droṇa (the teacher, commander)', 'atho': 'and then

• moreover', 'sahaputrāya': 'together with (his) son

• to the one accompanied by his son (Aśvatthāman)', 'caiva': 'and indeed

• and also', 'śāradvatāya': 'to Śāradvata (Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat)', 'apratidvandvine': 'to one who has no rival/opponent

• unmatched', 'yotsyāmi': 'I will fight', 'aham': 'I', 'rājyam': 'kingdom, sovereignty', 'abhīpsamānaḥ': 'desiring, seeking to obtain'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma (Śāntanava, son of Śāntanu)
• Śāntanu
• Droṇa
• Aśvatthāman
• Kṛpa (Śāradvata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral strain of warfare within a shared lineage and teacher-student bonds: one may still perform outward reverence to elders and gurus, yet be propelled by political desire (rājya) into violent conflict—raising questions about dharma, loyalty, and ambition.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, the speaker declares that after saluting the senior Kuru leaders and teachers—Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman, and Kṛpa—he will proceed to fight with the aim of securing the kingdom.