Shloka 27

धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)

Devanagari script

यश्न तेषां प्रणेता वै वासुदेवोी महाबल:

Transliteration

yasya teṣāṃ praṇetā vai vāsudevo mahābalaḥ

Translation

For them, the true leader is Vāsudeva—mighty in strength—whose guidance directs their course. The statement underscores that power in war is not merely physical force but also rightful leadership and discerning counsel.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नः: of us / our
• नः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• प्रणेता: leader / guide
• प्रणेता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणेता (प्रातिपदिक; √नी + प्र + तृच्)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै
• Form: true

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva (Krishna)
• वासुदेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाबलः: mighty / of great strength
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that decisive strength in a conflict comes from rightful leadership and guiding intelligence—embodied here by Vāsudeva—rather than from brute force alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker points out that a particular side’s direction and success are grounded in having Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) as their guide/leader, emphasizing his strategic and moral influence within the unfolding war context.