Shloka 11

Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds

Devanagari script

चक्षुर्हणं जये सक्तमिष्वासधरमच्युतम्‌ । दान्तं बहुमतं लोके के शूरा: पर्यवारयन्‌

Transliteration

cakṣurhaṇaṃ jaye saktamiṣvāsadharamacyutam | dāntaṃ bahumataṃ loke ke śūrāḥ paryavārayan

Translation

वैशम्पायन बोले—विजय में आसक्त, धनुष धारण करने वाले अच्युत, दान्त और लोक में बहुमान्य—उन्हें (मानो रोकने को) किन शूरवीरों ने घेर लिया था?

Word by Word

चक्षुःeye

हणम्slayer/striker (as read)

जयेin victory / in conquest

सक्तम्attached, intent

इष्वासधरम्bow-bearer (one who holds a bow)

अच्युतम्Acyuta (Krishna)

दान्तम्self-controlled, subdued

बहुमतम्much-esteemed, highly regarded

लोकेin the world

केwhich? who?

शूराःheroes, warriors

पर्यवारयन्surrounded, hemmed in

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)

bow (iṣvāsa)

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 the ethical ideal of disciplined power: even amid war and the pursuit of victory, the truly exemplary figure is described as dānta (self-controlled) and bahumata (esteemed). Martial capability is framed as most admirable when governed by restraint and recognized by society.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana poses a pointed question about the battlefield situation: which warriors managed to surround Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa), portrayed as a formidable, victory-focused bowman. The question sets up identification of the opposing heroes and emphasizes the intensity of the encounter.