Shloka 13

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

वेद चास्त्रं भरद्वाजाद्‌ दुर्धर्ष: सत्यसड्गर: । यो नित्यं स्पर्धते द्रोणं भीष्मं चैव महाबलम्‌

Transliteration

veda cāstraṃ bharadvājād durdharṣaḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ | yo nityaṃ spardhate droṇaṃ bhīṣmaṃ caiva mahābalam ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Aprendió el Veda y la ciencia de las armas de Bharadvāja. Inexpugnable y firme en el combate veraz, desafiaba sin cesar a Droṇa y al poderosísimo Bhīṣma—señal de la confianza disciplinada del guerrero y del ideal ético de enfrentar aun a los mayores adversarios sin engaño ni retirada.

Word by Word

• वेद: knows
• वेद: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Lat (Present), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (missile-weapon)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भरद्वाजात्: from Bharadvāja
• भरद्वाजात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• दुर्धर्षः: hard to assail, unassailable
• दुर्धर्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्धर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्यसङ्गरः: true to his battle-vow (one whose combat is truthful/steadfast)
• सत्यसङ्गरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यसङ्गर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• स्पर्धते: competes (with), challenges
• स्पर्धते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पर्ध्
• Form: Lat (Present), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• द्रोणम्: Droṇa
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• महाबलम्: very strong (mighty)
• महाबलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bharadvāja
• Droṇa
• Bhīṣma
• Veda
• Astra (weapon-science)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of disciplined strength grounded in learning (Veda and martial science) and ethical conduct in conflict—'truthful battle' (satyasaṅgara), where courage is expressed through fair challenge rather than deceit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a formidable warrior who, having been trained by Bharadvāja in sacred and martial knowledge, repeatedly measures himself against the foremost masters of war—Droṇa and Bhīṣma—emphasizing his prowess and fearless competitiveness.