Shloka 2

द्रोणसेनापत्यं, व्यूहविन्यासः, उत्पातदर्शनं, आरम्भयुद्धम्

Droṇa’s Command, Battle-Formations, Omens, and Opening Engagement

Devanagari script

दुर्योधन उवाच वर्णश्रैष्ठयात्‌ कुलोत्पत्त्या श्रुतेन वयसा धिया । वीर्याद्‌ दाक्ष्यादधृष्यत्वादर्थज्ञानान्नयाज्जयात्‌

Transliteration

duryodhana uvāca varṇaśraiṣṭhyāt kulotpattayā śrutena vayasā dhiyā | vīryād dākṣyād adhṛṣyatvād arthajñānān nayāj jayāt ||

Translation

ドゥルヨーダナは言った。「身分と階位の卓越、名門の出生、学識、年齢の円熟、そして知恵によって；また武勇、技量、不撓不屈の強さ、資源の見識、治国の術、そして勝利によって――かかる尺度により、人は最上の者として認められる。」

Word by Word

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

उवाचsaid

वर्णश्रैष्ठ्यात्from superiority of caste/class

कुलोत्पत्त्याby noble birth/origin in a family

श्रुतेनby learning (what is heard/studied)

वयसाby age

धियाby intellect

वीर्यात्from valor/strength

दाक्ष्यात्from skill/competence

अधृष्यत्वात्from invincibility/unassailability

अर्थज्ञानात्from knowledge of meaning/purpose (or wealth-management)

नयात्from policy/strategy

जयात्from victory

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

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 lists the qualities by which Duryodhana judges superiority in a leader: inherited status and lineage, education and maturity, intelligence, martial prowess, practical competence, invincibility, command of resources, political strategy, and proven victory—an artha-and-power-centered yardstick that can stand in tension with dharma-based evaluation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Drona Parva, Duryodhana is speaking in a context of wartime leadership and command. He frames what, in his view, makes someone preeminent and fit to lead—emphasizing social rank, capability, and success—setting the tone for how he assesses allies and commanders during the battle.