Shloka 10

Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)

Devanagari script

एकश्नासि महाबाहो बहवश्चापि दानवा: । न सम॑ रौक्मिणेयाहं रणे मत्वापयामि वै,महाबाहो! आप अकेले हैं और इन दानवोंकी संख्या बहुत है। रुक्मिणीनन्दन! इस युद्धमें इतने विपक्षियोंका सामना करना अकेले आपके लिये कठिन है; यह सोचकर ही मैं युद्धसे हट रहा हूँ

Transliteration

ekaśnāsī mahābāho bahavaścāpi dānavāḥ | na samaṃ raukmiṇeyāhaṃ raṇe matvāpayāmi vai ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “Mighty-armed one, you stand alone, while these Dānavas are many. O son of Rukmiṇī, judging that in this battle it is not an equal contest for me to face so many opponents, I withdraw from the fight.”

Word by Word

एकःalone, single

असिyou are

महाबाहोO mighty-armed one

बहवःmany

चand

अपिalso, indeed

दानवाःDānavas (demons)

नnot

समम्equally, on equal terms

रौक्मिणेयO son of Rukmiṇī (Kṛṣṇa)

अहम्I

रणेin battle

मत्वाhaving thought/considered

अपयामिI go away, withdraw

वैindeed, surely

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva (Wind-god)

Raukmiṇeya (Kṛṣṇa, son of Rukmiṇī)

Dānavas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights prudent judgment in conflict: when the opposition is overwhelmingly numerous, even a powerful agent may choose withdrawal rather than engage in an unequal fight. It frames retreat not as cowardice but as strategic discernment based on proportionality and feasibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses Raukmiṇeya (Kṛṣṇa), noting that Kṛṣṇa stands alone while many Dānavas oppose him. Concluding that the battle is not an equal contest against so many, Vāyu declares that he is withdrawing from the fight.