Shloka 2
Uttara–Arjuna Saṃvāda and the Re-Arming of Gāṇḍīva
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 40
समादिष्टो मया क्षिप्रं धनूंष्पवहरोत्तर । नेमानि हि त्वदीयानि सोढुं शक्ष्यन्ति मे बलम् । भारं चापि गुरुं वोढुं कुज्जरं वा प्रमर्दितुम्
samādiṣṭo mayā kṣipraṃ dhanuṣpavaharottara | nemāni hi tvadīyāni soḍhuṃ śakṣyanti me balam | bhāraṃ cāpi guruṃ voḍhuṃ kuñjaraṃ vā pramarditum ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «On m’a ordonné d’agir sans délai, ô Uttara, porteur de l’arc. Mais ces armes ne sont pas les tiennes : ma force ne saurait endurer de les porter ; je ne puis non plus soutenir un fardeau si lourd, ni écraser un éléphant.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gap between being ordered to act and actually possessing the competence or strength to do so. It implicitly warns that duty (ājñā) should be matched with capability (bala), otherwise action becomes reckless rather than righteous.
In the Virāṭa setting, Uttara is being urged toward a martial task involving weapons and battle. The speaker conveys inability to bear the weapons’ burden or perform feats like overpowering an elephant, reflecting hesitation and the need for a truly capable warrior to take the lead.