Shloka 31

Devanagari script

आधिराज्यं महद्‌ दीप्तं प्रथितं मधुसूदन । आहतं येन वीर्येण कुरूणां सर्वराजसु,“श्रीकृष्ण! जो अर्जुन दो भुजाओंसे युक्त होकर भी सदा प्राचीनकालके सहस्र भुजाधारी कार्तवीर्य अर्जुनके साथ स्पर्धा रखता है; केशव! जो एक ही वेगसे पाँच सौ बाण चलाता है, जो पाण्डव अर्जुन धर्नुर्विद्यामें राजा कार्तवीर्यके समान ही समझा जाता है, जिसका तेज सूर्यके समान है, जो इन्द्रियसंयममें महर्षियोंके, क्षमामें पृथ्वीके और पराक्रममें देवराज इन्द्रके समान है; मधुसूदन! कौरवोंका यह विशाल साम्राज्य, जो सम्पूर्ण राजाओंमें प्रख्यात एवं प्रकाशित हो रहा है, जिसे अर्जुनने ही अपने पराक्रमसे बढ़ाया है; समस्त पाण्डव जिसके बाहुबलका भरोसा रखते हैं; जो सम्पूर्ण रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ तथा सत्यपराक्रमी है, संग्राममें जिसके सम्मुख जाकर कोई जीवित नहीं लौटता है, अच्युत! जो सम्पूर्ण भूतोंको जीतनेमें समर्थ, विजयशील एवं अजेय है तथा जैसे देवताओंके आश्रय इन्द्र हैं, उसी प्रकार जो समस्त पाण्डवोंका अवलम्ब है, वह तुम्हारा भाई और मित्र अर्जुन इस समय कैसे है?

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

ādhirājyaṃ mahad dīptaṃ prathitaṃ madhusūdana |

āhataṃ yena vīryeṇa kurūṇāṃ sarvarājasu ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O Madhusūdana, this vast and radiant imperial dominion of the Kurus—renowned among all kings—has been won and made illustrious by the very prowess of Arjuna. He is the pillar on whom all the Pāṇḍavas rely, a foremost chariot-warrior, truly valiant, before whom none goes into battle and returns alive; victorious, unconquerable, capable of subduing all beings, and the Pāṇḍavas’ support as Indra is the refuge of the gods. How is that Arjuna—your brother and friend—now?”

Word by Word

आधिराज्यम्overlordship, imperial sovereignty

महत्great

दीप्तम्shining, radiant

प्रथितम्renowned, widely known

मधुसूदनO slayer of Madhu (Krishna)

आहतम्struck down/overpowered, subdued

येनby whom

वीर्येणby valor, by prowess

कुरूणाम्of the Kurus

सर्वराजसुamong all kings

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana)

Kurus

Arjuna

Pāṇḍavas

Indra

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?

The verse frames political sovereignty as resting on personal virtue and disciplined prowess: legitimate fame and imperial power are portrayed as outcomes of vīrya (heroic excellence) exercised in service of one’s allies. It also highlights ethical responsibility—when a community depends on a single champion, his welfare becomes a matter of collective dharma and concern.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war diplomacy and preparations, the speaker (as narrated by Vaiśampāyana) emphasizes Arjuna’s decisive role in establishing the Kurus’ imperial renown and his function as the Pāṇḍavas’ main support, then asks Kṛṣṇa about Arjuna’s present condition—underscoring both Arjuna’s stature and the urgency of the moment.