Shloka 49

Devanagari script

नैष जातु नरै: शक्यो जेतुं शस्त्रभृतां वर: । अपि वृत्रहणा संख्ये रथयूथपयूथप:,'ये द्रोणाचार्य शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ एवं रथयूथ-पतियोंके भी यूथपति हैं। इन्हें युद्धमें मनुष्य कदापि नहीं जीत सकते। देवराज इन्द्रके लिये भी इनपर विजय पाना असम्भव है

Transliteration

naiṣa jātu naraiḥ śakyo jetuṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | api vṛtrahaṇā saṅkhye rathayūthapayūthapaḥ ||

Translation

Kṛpa said: “This foremost of weapon-bearers can never be conquered by men. Indeed, in the press of battle even Vṛtrahan (Indra), the slayer of Vṛtra, would find it impossible to overcome him—Drona, who is a leader of leaders among the chiefs of chariot-squadrons.”

Word by Word

नnot

एषःthis (man)

जातुever, at any time

नरैःby men

शक्यःpossible, able to be

जेतुम्to conquer

शस्त्रभृताम्of weapon-bearers

वरःthe best, the foremost

अपिeven, also

वृत्रहणाby Vṛtrahan (Indra)

संख्येin battle

रथयूथपयूथपःleader of the leaders of chariot-troops (supreme commander)

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛpa

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Indra (Vṛtrahan)

Vṛtra

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?

The verse underscores the limits of ordinary human power before extraordinary mastery and command: some warriors, by skill, experience, and leadership, appear ‘unconquerable,’ and even divine comparison (Indra) is invoked to heighten the sense of awe and caution.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛpa is speaking to emphasize Droṇa’s overwhelming battlefield superiority, portraying him as the foremost armed warrior and a supreme commander among chariot-leaders, thereby warning others not to underestimate him or expect an easy victory.