Shloka 21

धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa

Devanagari script

विद्यां यस्पोपजीवन्ति सर्वलोकधनुर्धरा:

Transliteration

vidyāṃ yaspopajīvanti sarvalokadhanurdharāḥ

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra évoque ces maîtres archers, renommés dans le monde entier, qui vivent de leur savoir : ils se soutiennent par la discipline et l’habileté de la science acquise, surtout la science des armes.

Word by Word

• विद्याम्: knowledge
• विद्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• यैः: by whom/with which
• यैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उपजीवन्ति: live by, subsist on
• उपजीवन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√जीव्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सर्वलोकधनुर्धराः: all-world bow-bearers (archers of all lands)
• सर्वलोकधनुर्धराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वलोकधनुर्धर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• archers (dhanurdharāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights vidyā as a sustaining power: true expertise and disciplined learning are not merely ornamental but become one’s livelihood and identity—especially for warriors whose duty depends on trained skill.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Drona Parva context, Dhṛtarāṣṭra is referring to famed bowmen and their standing in the world, framing the discussion around martial competence and the role of learned skill amid the unfolding war.