Shloka 19

धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama

Devanagari script

क्षिपत्येकेन वेगेन पजच बाणशतानि य: । सदृशं बाहुवीयेंण कार्तवीर्यस्य पाण्डवम्‌

Transliteration

kṣipaty ekena vegena pañca bāṇaśatāni yaḥ | sadṛśaṃ bāhuvīryeṇa kārtavīryasya pāṇḍavam ||

Translation

Waiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Dia, sang Pāṇḍava, yang dalam satu gelombang kecepatan mampu melepaskan lima ratus anak panah, dan yang kekuatan lengannya sebanding dengan Kārtavīrya—dialah yang kulihat dalam pertempuran besar ini seakan-akan telah membinasakan bala tentara musuh.”

Word by Word

• क्षिपति: hurls/shoots
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: Lat (Present), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वेगेन: with speed/impetus
• वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)

• बाण: arrows
• बाण: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शतानि: hundreds
• शतानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सदृशम्: similar/equal
• सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बाहु: in (his) arm(s)
• बाहु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वीर्येण: by strength/valor
• वीर्येण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कार्तवीर्यस्य: of Kartavīrya (Arjuna)
• Type: ProperNoun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पाण्डवम्: the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna)
• पाण्डवम्: Karma
• Type: ProperNoun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Arjuna (Pāṇḍava, Pāṇḍunandana implied)
• Kārtavīrya Arjuna
• arrows (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that when a dharma-conflict reaches an unavoidable climax, the outcome hinges not only on claims of right but also on the capacity to uphold that right. Arjuna’s near-superhuman discipline and speed symbolize focused agency—power that, in the epic’s ethical frame, is meant to serve rightful order rather than personal cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes Arjuna’s battlefield capability in prophetic, anticipatory language: Arjuna can unleash five hundred arrows in a single rush and matches the legendary Kārtavīrya in arm-strength. The statement heightens the sense that, once war begins, Arjuna will be a decisive force against enemy armies.