Shloka 18

Devanagari script

समप्रमाणान्‌ पाण्डूनां समवीर्यान्‌ मदोत्कटान्‌ | सौभद्रंं च महेष्वासममरैरपि दुःसहम्‌

Transliteration

samapramāṇān pāṇḍūnāṃ samavīryān madotkaṭān | saubhadraṃ ca maheṣvāsaṃ amarair api duḥsaham ||

Translation

Mereka melihat putra-putra Pāṇḍu—sepadan dalam perawakan, sepadan dalam keperkasaan, dan garang dalam kebanggaan yang menggelegak—serta Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), pemanah agung yang bahkan para dewa pun sukar menahannya.

Word by Word

समप्रमाणान्of equal stature/measure

पाण्डूनाम्of the Pāṇḍavas

समवीर्यान्of equal prowess

मदोत्कटान्arrogant/overbearing with pride

सौभद्रम्Abhimanyu (son of Subhadrā)

चand

महेष्वासम्great bowman

अमरैःby the immortals (gods)

अपिeven/also

दुःसहम्hard to endure/irresistible

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pāṇḍu)

Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)

Amaras (gods/immortals)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the formidable capability of the righteous side’s warriors: excellence and unity in strength can make a force “unendurable,” yet the mention of pride (mada) also hints at the ethical need for self-restraint even amid justified power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the Pāṇḍavas as evenly matched in stature and valor, and singles out Abhimanyu (Saubhadra) as a great archer whose might is portrayed as daunting even to the gods—building the atmosphere of impending conflict in the Udyoga Parva.