Shloka 14

आदि पर्व, अध्याय 139 — Hiḍimba’s Detection and Hiḍimbā’s Approach to Bhīma

Devanagari script

ददानीति प्रतिज्ञाते फाल्गुनेनाब्रवीद्‌ गुरु: । युद्धेडहं प्रतियोद्धव्यो युध्यमानस्त्वयानघ,तब अर्जुनने प्रतिज्ञा की--'अवश्य दूँगा।” उनके यों कहनेपर गुरु द्रोण बोले--“निष्पाप अर्जुन! यदि युद्धभूमिमें मैं भी तुम्हारे विरुद्ध लड़नेको आऊँ तो तुम (अवश्य) मेरा सामना करना”

Transliteration

dadānīti pratijñāte phālgunenābravīd guruḥ | yuddhe ’haṃ pratiyoddhavyo yudhyamānas tvayānagha ||

Translation

Lorsque Phālguna (Arjuna) eut fait le vœu : « Je le donnerai », le maître déclara : « Arjuna sans tache, si sur le champ de bataille je dois moi-même être combattu comme ton adversaire tandis que tu es engagé dans le combat, alors tu devras m’affronter, sans fléchir ».

Word by Word

ददानीति"I give" (thus)

प्रतिज्ञातेwhen (it was) promised / upon the promise

फाल्गुनेनby Phalguna (Arjuna)

अब्रवीत्said

गुरुःthe teacher

युद्धेin battle

अहम्I

प्रतियोद्धव्यःto be fought against / to be opposed in combat

युध्यमानःfighting

त्वयाby you

अनघO sinless one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Phālguna (Arjuna)

Droṇa (guru)

battlefield (yuddha)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steadfastness to one’s pledged duty: a vow must be upheld without partiality, even when the opponent is one’s revered teacher. The verse highlights ethical firmness and the hard edge of kṣatriya-dharma when tested by personal bonds.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna has promised to give what is demanded; Droṇa responds by setting a severe condition—if Droṇa comes as an adversary in battle, Arjuna must confront him. It underscores the seriousness of the commitment and the guru’s role in testing the disciple’s resolve.