Shloka 47

Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals

Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness

Devanagari script

युधिछिर उवाच हन्त पृच्छामि तस्मात्‌ त्वां पितामह नमोस्तु ते । वधोपायं ब्रवीहि त्वमात्मन: समरे परै:

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: hanta pṛcchāmi tasmāt tvāṃ pitāmaha namo 'stu te | vadhopāyaṃ bravīhi tvam ātmanaḥ samare paraiḥ ||

Translation

ユディシュティラは言った。「それならばお尋ねいたします、祖父よ。あなたに礼拝いたします。戦場において、敵がいかなる手立てであなたを倒し得るのか、その方法をお告げください。」

Word by Word

• {'yudhiṣṭhira uvāca': 'Yudhiṣṭhira said', 'hanta': 'well then

• an emphatic particle introducing a request', 'pṛcchāmi': 'I ask

• I inquire', 'tasmāt': 'therefore

• for that reason', 'tvām': 'you (accusative singular)', 'pitāmaha': 'grandfather

• revered elder (here: Bhīṣma)', "namo 'stu te": 'salutations be to you', 'vadha-upāyam': 'means/method of killing or bringing about death

• strategy for slaying', 'bravīhi': 'tell

• speak (imperative)', 'tvam': 'you (emphatic pronoun)', 'ātmanaḥ': 'of yourself

• for your own person', 'samare': 'in battle

• in combat', 'paraiḥ': 'by foes

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (addressed as Pitāmaha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the tension between reverence for elders and the harsh necessities of righteous war: even while seeking a way to defeat Bhīṣma, Yudhiṣṭhira maintains humility and respect, framing the request within dharma and duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Kurukṣetra war context, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Grandfather’ and, after offering salutations, asks him directly to disclose the means by which the opposing side could bring about Bhīṣma’s fall in battle.