Shloka 19

अक्षदेवन-प्रवर्तनम् | Commencement of the Dice Game

Devanagari script

धृष्टद्युम्न: पाण्डवाश्व॒ सात्यकि: केशवोडष्टम: । सत्त्वस्था वीर्यसम्पन्ना हाुन्योन्यप्रियदर्शना:,धष्टद्युम्न, पाँचों पाण्डव, सात्यकि और आठवें श्रीकृष्ण--ये ही धैर्यपूर्वक स्थिर रहे। ये सभी पराक्रमसम्पन्न तथा एक-दूसरेका प्रिय करनेवाले हैं

Transliteration

dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pāṇḍavāś ca sātyakiḥ keśavo ’ṣṭamaḥ | sattvasthā vīryasampannā hy anyonyapriyadarśanāḥ ||

Translation

Duryodhana berkata: “Dhṛṣṭadyumna, kelima Pāṇḍava, Sātyaki, dan sebagai yang kedelapan Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)—merekalah saja yang tetap tegak dengan keberanian yang mantap. Semuanya berdaya-utama, dan saling memandang dengan kasih serta niat baik.”

Word by Word

धृष्टद्युम्नःDhrishtadyumna

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

सात्यकिःSatyaki

केशवःKeshava (Krishna)

अष्टमःthe eighth

सत्त्वस्थाःsteadfast, firm in courage

वीर्यसम्पन्नाःendowed with valor

अन्योन्यप्रियदर्शनाःpleasing to one another (mutually dear)

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Pāṇḍavas

Sātyaki

Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Duryodhana

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 strength of steadfastness and mutual goodwill: true power is not only martial valor (vīrya) but also inner composure (sattva) and loyal, harmonious cooperation among allies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana points out a select group—Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the five Pāṇḍavas, Sātyaki, and Kṛṣṇa—who remain firm and united, emphasizing their courage, capability, and mutual affection as a cohesive force.