Shloka 316

द्रोणकर्णयोः निशि संप्रहारः — Night Engagement with Droṇa and Karṇa

Devanagari script

त्वदर्थे पुरुषव्याप्र जयो दैवे प्रतिष्ठित: । 'पुरुषसिंह! आज मैं अपने पुरुषार्थका भरोसा करके तुम्हारे हितके लिये अर्जुनके साथ युद्ध करूँगा। विजयकी प्राप्ति तो दैवके अधीन है

Transliteration

tvadarthe puruṣavyāpra jayo daive pratiṣṭhitaḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Pour toi, ô homme d’effort infatigable, j’engagerai le combat contre Arjuna, m’appuyant sur mon propre effort humain (puruṣārtha) pour ton bien. Mais l’obtention de la victoire, en dernier ressort, dépend du destin, du divin.»

Word by Word

त्वदर्थेfor your sake / in your interest

पुरुषव्याप्रO manly/heroic one (lit. one engaged in manly effort)

जयःvictory

दैवेin fate / in the divine dispensation

प्रतिष्ठितःis established / rests (upon)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse balances puruṣakāra (human effort) with daiva (destiny): one must act vigorously for a righteous purpose, yet accept that the final outcome—victory or defeat—lies beyond complete human control.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a warrior’s resolve to fight Arjuna for another’s benefit, emphasizing determined action while acknowledging that victory is ultimately governed by divine fate.