Shloka 57

Devanagari script

सक्षात्रं हृदयं कृत्वा त्यक्त्वेद शिथिलं मन: । वीर्यमास्थाय कौरव्य धुरमुद्वह धुर्यवत्‌,“कुरुनन्दन! अपने हृदयको क्षत्रियोचित उत्साहसे भरकर मनकी इस शिथिलताको दूर करके पराक्रमका आश्रय ले आप एक धुरन्धर वीर पुरुषकी भाँति युद्धका भार वहन कीजिये

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | sakṣātraṁ hṛdayaṁ kṛtvā tyaktveda śithilaṁ manaḥ | vīryam āsthāya kauravya dhuram udvaha dhuryavat ||

Translation

Wahai Kauravya, teguhkan hatimu dengan semangat sejati seorang kṣatriya; buanglah kelemahan pikiran ini. Bernaunglah pada keberanian, dan pikullah beban peperangan laksana seorang jawara terdepan.

Word by Word

सhe (you)

क्षात्रम्kshatriya-spirit, martial ardor

हृदयम्heart

कृत्वाhaving made

त्यक्त्वाhaving abandoned

इदम्this

शिथिलम्slack, weak

मनःmind

वीर्यम्valor, prowess

आस्थायhaving resorted to, taking refuge in

कौरव्यO Kaurava (descendant of Kuru)

धुरम्burden, yoke-load

उद्वहcarry, bear (you!)

धुर्यवत्like a capable bearer of burdens (a dhurya)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kauravya (a Kuru prince; addressee)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse urges a Kuru prince to reawaken kṣatriya resolve: strengthen the heart with warriorly courage, abandon mental laxity, and accept the heavy responsibility of righteous combat and leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, an exhortation is delivered to a Kuru prince who is showing hesitation or discouragement. He is instructed to steady his mind, rely on valor, and carry the ‘burden’ of battle like a proven champion.