Shloka 20

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता प्रत्युवाच राजपुत्र बृहन्नला । का शक्तिर्मम सारथ्यं कर्तु संग्राममूर्धथनि,उसके ऐसा कहनेपर बृहन्नला राजकुमारसे बोली--“भला, मेरी क्‍या शक्ति है कि मैं युद्धके मुहानेपर सारथिका काम सँभाल सकूँ?

Transliteration

evaṃ uktā pratyuvāca rājaputra bṛhannalā | kā śaktir mama sārathyaṃ kartuṃ saṅgrāmamūrdhani ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Ainsi interpellée, Bṛhannalā répondit au prince : «Quelle force, quelle compétence ai-je pour prendre la charge d’aurige au seuil même du combat ?»

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्ताhaving been spoken to / addressed

प्रत्युवाचreplied

राजपुत्रम्the prince

बृहन्नलाBṛhannalā

काwhat?

शक्तिःability, power

ममof me / my

सारथ्यम्charioteering, the role of charioteer

कर्तुम्to do, to perform

संग्राममूर्धनिat the forefront/head of battle

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bṛhannalā

rājaputra (the prince, i.e., Uttarā/Uttara in context)

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 highlights prudent humility before undertaking a perilous duty: one should recognize the gravity of war and not claim competence lightly, especially when lives and righteousness are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the prince speaks, Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise) responds by questioning her own ability to serve as charioteer at the battle’s front, setting up the ensuing episode where the prince’s fear and Arjuna’s concealed prowess become central.