Shloka 17

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

स द्रोणभीष्मावायातौ सहेदिति मतिर्मम । स हि दिव्यास्त्रविद्‌ राजा सखा चाड्रिरसो नृप:

Transliteration

sa droṇabhīṣmāv āyātau sahed iti matir mama | sa hi divyāstravid rājā sakhā cādriraso nṛpaḥ ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「たとえドローナとビーシュマが我に敵して来ようとも、耐え抜かねばならぬ――それが我が決意である。あの王は天界の武器に通じ、しかも――おお王よ――山より生まれし戦士の友でもあるのだ。」

Word by Word

सःhe

द्रोणभीष्मौDrona and Bhishma

आयातौhaving come / arrived

सहtogether/with

इदितिthus (quotative)

मतिःthought, opinion

ममof me / my

सःhe

हिindeed, for

दिव्यास्त्रवित्knower of divine weapons

राजाking

सखाfriend

चand

अद्रिरसःone whose essence is mountain-like / firm as a mountain (epithet)

नृपःking, ruler

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Droṇa

Bhīṣma

rājā (a king, unnamed in this verse)

adri-rasaḥ (mountain-born figure, unnamed epithet)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast resolve in the face of formidable opponents. Ethically, it reflects a kṣatriya ideal: to uphold one’s duty and commitment even when confronted by revered elders and masters skilled in divine weaponry.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker reports a determination to endure even if the great warriors Droṇa and Bhīṣma advance. The verse also notes that a certain king is expert in celestial weapons and is allied as a friend to a ‘mountain-born’ figure, indicating the strategic weight of alliances and martial expertise in the unfolding conflict.