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Shloka 15

गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel

क्रिया बलवती राजन्‌ नान्यत्‌ किंचिद्‌ युधिष्ठिर । दैत्याश्ष दानवाश्षैव राक्षसा: पार्थिवास्तथा

kriyā balavatī rājan nānyat kiñcid yudhiṣṭhira | daityāś ca dānavāś caiva rākṣasāḥ pārthivās tathā ||

Vāyu dijo: «Oh rey Yudhiṣṭhira, la acción (emprendida rectamente) es poderosa; no hay nada más que de veras prevalezca. Así ocurre con los Daityas y los Dānavas, con los Rākṣasas, y del mismo modo con los reyes de la tierra».

क्रियाaction, effort
क्रिया:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्रिया (स्त्री., प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
बलवतीpowerful, effective
बलवती:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अन्यत्anything else
अन्यत्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
किंचित्something, anything (at all)
किंचित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकिंचित्
युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira
युधिष्ठिर:
TypeNoun
Rootयुधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
दैत्याःDaityas (demons)
दैत्याः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
दानवाःDānavas (demons)
दानवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदानव (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
राक्षसाःRākṣasas
राक्षसाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पार्थिवाःkings, earthly rulers
पार्थिवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तथाso, likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
D
Daityas
D
Dānavas
R
Rākṣasas
P
Pārthivas (earthly kings)

Educational Q&A

The verse emphasizes human (and cosmic) agency: effective action is the decisive force. Rather than relying on mere intention, status, or speculation, one must act rightly and decisively; this principle applies across beings—from asuras and rākṣasas to human kings.

Vāyudeva addresses King Yudhiṣṭhira and underscores that outcomes in conflict and governance are shaped by powerful, well-executed action. He generalizes the point by citing various formidable groups (Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas) and also earthly rulers, implying that all are bound by the same law of efficacy through action.