Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ते हि वीरा महेष्वासा: कृतास्त्रा दृढयोधिन: । धार्तराष्ट्रां चमूं कृत्स्नां रक्षेयुरमरा इव,वे वीर महाधनुर्धर, अस्त्रविद्याके ज्ञाता तथा दृढ़तापूर्वक युद्ध करनेवाले थे; अतः दुर्योधनकी सारी सेनाकी देवताओंके समान रक्षा कर सकते थे

Transliteration

te hi vīrā maheṣvāsāḥ kṛtāstrā dṛḍhayodhinaḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrāṁ camūṁ kṛtsnāṁ rakṣeyur amarā iva ||

Translation

Vāyu berkata: “Mereka adalah pahlawan, pemanah agung, terlatih sempurna dalam ilmu senjata, dan teguh dalam pertempuran; karena itu mereka dapat melindungi seluruh bala tentara Dhārtarāṣṭra laksana para dewa yang abadi.”

Word by Word

तेthey/those

हिindeed/for

वीराःheroes/warriors

महेष्वासाःgreat bowmen (having great bows)

कृतास्त्राःtrained/versed in weapons (having mastered weapons)

दृढयोधिनःsteadfast fighters

धार्तराष्ट्राम्of the Dhārtarāṣṭras (Duryodhana’s)

चमूम्army

कृत्स्नाम्entire/whole

रक्षेयुःcould/would protect

अमराःthe immortals/gods

इवlike/as

Speaker

श्रीवायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kaurava party/sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

camū (army)

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 potency of disciplined training and steadfast courage: true mastery in arms and unwavering resolve can protect an entire force. Ethically, it also invites reflection that extraordinary capability is not automatically righteous—its moral value depends on the cause it serves.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu is describing certain warriors on the Dhārtarāṣṭra side as exceptionally capable—great archers, skilled in astras, and firm in battle—so formidable that they could safeguard the whole Kaurava host like the gods.