Shloka 30

Devanagari script

एषामेते महामात्रा: किराता युद्धदुर्मदा:,'ये रणदुर्मद किरात इन हाथियोंके महावत और इन्हें शिक्षा देनेमें कुशल हैं। ये सब-के-सब अग्निसे उत्पन्न हुए हैं। सव्यसाची अर्जुनने इन सबको संग्रामभूमिमें पराजित कर दिया था

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | eṣām ete mahāmātrāḥ kirātā yuddha-durmadāḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “These are their great officers—Kirāta warriors, intoxicated with the pride of battle.” In the narrative context, the line underscores how martial arrogance and reliance on fierce auxiliaries are presented as strengths in war, yet such pride is ethically precarious and often foreshadows downfall when opposed by steadiness and rightful prowess.

Word by Word

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• एते: these
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महामात्राः: high officers / great officials
• महामात्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामात्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• किराताः: Kirātas (mountain-tribesmen)
• किराताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• युद्ध-दुर्मदाः: fierce/maddened in battle
• युद्ध-दुर्मदाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्मद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kirātas
• mahāmātrāḥ (commanders/officers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the danger of durmada—battle-pride and overconfidence. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, martial strength without humility and discernment can become a moral weakness, inviting reversal when confronted by disciplined, dharmically grounded resistance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the forces present in the conflict, identifying certain prominent commanders and fierce Kirāta fighters among them, characterizing them as formidable and war-intoxicated.