Shloka 57

Yudhiṣṭhira–Droṇa Saṃgrāma

Engagement and Countermeasures

Devanagari script

कुमारगुरवे तुभ्यं नीलग्रीवाय वेधसे । पिनाकिने हविष्याय सत्याय विभवे सदा,प्रभो! आप कुमार कार्तिकेयके पिता, कण्ठमें नील चिह्न धारण करनेवाले, लोकस्रष्टा, पिनाकधारी, हविष्यके अधिकारी, सत्यस्वरूप और सर्वत्र व्यापक हैं, आपको सदैव नमस्कार है

Transliteration

kumāragurave tubhyaṃ nīlagrīvāya vedhase | pinākine haviṣyāya satyāya vibhave sadā prabho ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ô Seigneur, je me prosterne devant toi à jamais — maître de Kumāra (Kārttikeya), Toi à la gorge bleue ; ordonnateur et créateur du cosmos ; porteur de l’arc Pināka ; digne récipiendaire des oblations sacrificielles ; incarnation de la Vérité et puissance qui pénètre tout. Que ta présence souveraine protège et soutienne ce qui est juste.»

Word by Word

कुमारगुरवेto the teacher of Kumāra (Skanda)

तुभ्यंto you

नीलग्रीवायto the blue-necked one

वेधसेto the creator/ordainer

पिनाकिनेto the bearer of Pināka (bow)

हविष्यायto (him who is) the oblation / worthy of oblations

सत्यायto the Truth / the true one

विभवेto the mighty one / to the all-pervading lord (by power)

सदाalways

प्रभोO Lord

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śiva (Nīlagrīva, Pinākin, Vedhas)

Kumāra (Kārttikeya/Skanda)

Pināka (Śiva’s bow)

Havis (sacrificial oblation)

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?

In the midst of war and uncertainty, the verse models turning to the highest principle—Śiva as Truth (satya) and cosmic order (vedhas)—through reverent remembrance. Ethically, it suggests that strength and victory are secondary to alignment with truth, rightful worship, and the sustaining order of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, utters a devotional salutation (stuti) to Śiva, invoking multiple epithets—teacher of Kārttikeya, blue-throated, bearer of Pināka, receiver of offerings—seeking divine support and auspiciousness amid the intense battles of the Droṇa Parva.