Shloka 10

Devanagari script

न हि पश्यामि त॑ वीरं यो मे रक्षेत्‌ सुतान्‌ रणे

Transliteration

na hi paśyāmi taṁ vīraṁ yo me rakṣet sutān raṇe

Translation

ドリタラーシュトラは言った。「まことに、戦場でわが子らを守り得る英雄が、私には見えぬ。」この不安な告白には、盲王の子への執着と、戦の道義的・現実的帰結への恐れとが同時に滲み、ダルマではなく偏りに根ざす権力の脆さをほのめかしている。

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• पश्यामि: I see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (दृश्-अर्थे)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), 1st, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that (him)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• वीरम्: hero/warrior
• वीरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• मे: my/of me
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: genitive, singular, 1st

• रक्षेत्: would protect/should protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), 3rd, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• his sons (the Kauravas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights how attachment (to one’s own sons) breeds fear and clouds judgment; when leadership is driven by partiality rather than dharma, confidence collapses even amid armies and allies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing of the unfolding war, voices doubt that any warrior can truly safeguard his sons on the battlefield, revealing his growing dread about the Kauravas’ fate.