Shloka 24

Devanagari script

एकेन रथमास्थाय पृथिवी येन निर्जिता । भीष्मद्रोणप्रभृतय: संत्रस्ता: साधुयायिन:,जिस वीरने अकेले ही रथपर बैठकर सारी पृथ्वीपर विजय पायी है, विराटनगरपर चढ़ाई करने गये हुए भीष्म और द्रोण-जैसे महान्‌ योद्धाओंको भी जिसने भयभीत करके भगा दिया है, उसके सामने आपका पुत्र क्या पराक्रम कर सकता है? यह आप ही देखिये। आज भी वह वीर आपकी मैत्रीपूर्ण दृष्टिकी प्रतीक्षा कर रहा है और आपकी आज्ञासे वह कौरवोंका सारा अपराध क्षमा कर सकता है

Transliteration

ekena ratham āsthāya pṛthivī yena nirjitā | bhīṣma-droṇa-prabhṛtayaḥ saṁtrastāḥ sādhuyāyinaḥ ||

Translation

Vidura said: “He who, mounting a single chariot, conquered the earth; he before whom even warriors like Bhīṣma and Droṇa—though advancing in a righteous campaign—were struck with fear and driven back: what valor can your son display against such a hero? Consider this yourself. Even now that mighty man awaits your friendly regard; and by your command he can forgive the entire wrongdoing of the Kauravas.”

Word by Word

एकेनwith one (alone)

रथम्chariot

आस्थायhaving mounted/ascended

पृथिवीthe earth

येनby whom

निर्जिताconquered

भीष्मद्रोणप्रभृतयःBhishma, Drona and the like

संत्रस्ताःterrified

साधुयायिनःgood-going/virtuous warriors (lit. good-goers)

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Bhīṣma

Droṇa

ratha (chariot)

pṛthivī (the earth)

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?

Vidura urges realistic, dharma-based statecraft: recognize true strength, abandon arrogance, and choose reconciliation while it is still possible. A ruler should restrain his side’s wrongdoing and seek peace through humility and forgiveness rather than invite ruin through obstinacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, Vidura counsels the Kuru king (implicitly Dhṛtarāṣṭra) during the tense pre-war negotiations. He points to the extraordinary prowess of the Pandava hero (implied Arjuna, famed for routing Bhīṣma and Droṇa at Virāṭa) and asks how Duryodhana could stand against him, urging the king to extend friendly regard so that the Pandava may forgive the Kauravas’ offenses and avert war.