Shloka 18

अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः

Devanagari script

स हि वीरो महेष्वासो मित्राणाम भयंकर:

Transliteration

sa hi vīro maheṣvāso mitrāṇām bhayaṅkaraḥ

Translation

Sebab ia benar-benar seorang pahlawan, pemanah agung—menjadi sumber rasa aman bagi sahabat-sahabatnya, dan sumber gentar bagi musuh-musuh mereka.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• वीरः: hero/warrior
• वीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेष्वासः: great archer (lit. one having a great bow)
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मित्राणाम्: of (his) friends/allies
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• भयङ्करः: terrible; causing fear
• भयङ्करः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयङ्कर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• mitra (allies/friends)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames heroic worth in martial terms: a true warrior is one whose skill and presence secure allies by making opposing forces fearful. It highlights how, in epic ethics, protection of one’s side and deterrence of enemies are central measures of kṣatriya prowess.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra is describing a formidable warrior in the Karṇa Parva context, emphasizing his bravery and exceptional archery, and noting that he inspires fear in those who threaten his allies.