Shloka 52

Devanagari script

स त्वं कुरु महाबाहो कर्म युक्तमिहात्मन: । मातुलानां 4 तेजसोअस्त्रबलस्य च

Transliteration

sa tvaṁ kuru mahābāho karma yuktam ihātmanaḥ | mātulānāṁ tejaso 'strabalasya ca ||

Translation

Therefore, O mighty-armed one, perform here the action that is fitting for your own duty and purpose—an action worthy of the splendour and martial power of your maternal uncles as well. In this crisis, let your conduct match the honour of your lineage and the strength of your arms.

Word by Word

सःhe/that (one)

त्वम्you

कुरुdo; perform

महाबाहोO mighty-armed one

कर्मdeed; action

युक्तम्proper; fitting; appropriate

इहhere; in this matter

आत्मनःof yourself

मातुलानाम्of the maternal uncles

तेजसःof splendor; of prowess

अस्त्रबलस्यof the strength of weapons; of weapon-power

चand

Speaker

श्रीवायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Vāyudeva (speaker)

mahābāhu (addressed hero, unnamed in this verse)

mātula (maternal uncles, collective reference)

astra (weapons, as a category)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Act in a way that is yuktam—ethically and situationally appropriate—so that one’s conduct aligns with svadharma (one’s rightful role) and upholds the honour and prowess associated with one’s lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses a warrior-hero, urging him to take decisive, proper action in the present conflict, invoking the reputation and martial strength of the hero’s maternal uncles as a standard to live up to.