Shloka 9

भीष्मभीमसमागमः — Bhīṣma–Bhīma Strategic Engagement and Counsel to the King

Devanagari script

वासुदेवसहायाश्न महेन्द्रसमविक्रमा: । सर्वथाहं तु राजेन्द्र करिष्ये वचनं तव,'राजेन्द्र! एक तो वे देवराज इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी हैं, दूसरे साक्षात्‌ भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्ण उनके सहायक हैं, (अतः उन्हें जीतना असम्भव है तथापि) मैं सर्वथा तुम्हारे वचनका पालन करूँगा

Transliteration

vāsudeva-sahāyāś ca mahendra-sama-vikramāḥ | sarvathāhaṃ tu rājendra kariṣye vacanaṃ tava ||

Translation

Wahai raja di atas para raja, sekutu mereka adalah Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa), dan kegagahan mereka setara Mahendra (Indra). (Maka menaklukkan mereka nyaris mustahil) namun bagaimanapun juga aku akan melaksanakan titahmu.

Word by Word

वासुदेवसहायाःhaving Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) as helper

नnot

महेन्द्रसमविक्रमाःequal in prowess to Mahendra (Indra)

सर्वथाin every way; entirely

अहम्I

तुbut; however

राजेन्द्रO king of kings (O Rajendra)

करिष्येI will do; I will carry out

वचनम्word; command

तवof you; your

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

rājendra (the king, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra in context)

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Mahendra (Indra)

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 strategic and ethical realism: recognizing overwhelming strength—especially when supported by divine guidance—while still honoring one’s duty of obedience to rightful authority, even when success appears unlikely.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses the king, acknowledging that the opposing side is extraordinarily powerful because Kṛṣṇa supports them and their warriors match Indra’s might; nevertheless, he affirms that he will carry out the king’s instruction.