Shloka 32

Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma

Devanagari script

स भवान्‌ धुर्यवत्‌ संख्ये धुरमुद्रोढुमर्हति । अभिषेचय सैनान्ये स्वयमात्मानमात्मना,“तुम धुरन्धर पुरुषकी भाँति युद्धस्थलमें सेना-संचालनका भार वहन करनेके योग्य हो; इसलिये स्वयं ही अपने-आपको सेनापतिके पदपर अभिषिक्त कराओ

Transliteration

sa bhavān dhuryavat saṅkhye dhuram udroḍhum arhati | abhiṣecaya sainānye svayam ātmānam ātmanā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “You are fit, like a true bearer of burdens, to shoulder the weight of command in the press of battle. Therefore, consecrate yourself—by your own resolve and authority—as the commander of the army.”

Word by Word

सःhe

भवान्you (honorific)

धुर्यवत्like a burden-bearer / like a capable leader

संख्येin battle

धुरम्the burden (responsibility)

उद्रोढुम्to mount / to undertake / to bear

अर्हतिis fit / deserves

अभिषेचयhave (yourself) consecrated / cause to be anointed

सैनान्येin/into the office of commander (generalship)

स्वयम्yourself

आत्मानम्yourself (as object)

आत्मनाby yourself

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

the (unnamed) addressee addressed as bhavān

sainānya (office of army-commander)

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?

Competence and responsibility in crisis are framed as a moral qualification: one who is capable of bearing the ‘burden’ of command should accept leadership rather than evade it, even if the appointment must be asserted by personal resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya urges the addressed warrior-leader to take up the heavy responsibility of directing the army in the battle and to assume the formal position of commander (sainānya) through self-authorized consecration.