Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

क्षिप्रहस्तश्चित्रयोधी मत: सेनापतिर्मम । अभेद्यकवच: श्रीमान्‌ मातड़ इव यूथप:

Transliteration

kṣiprahastaś citrayodhī mataḥ senāpatir mama | abhedyakavacaḥ śrīmān mātaṅga iva yūthapaḥ ||

Translation

ನನ್ನ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಧೃಷ್ಟದ್ಯುಮ್ನನೇ ಸೇನಾಪತಿಯಾಗಲು ಯೋಗ್ಯನು—ಅವನು ಶೀಘ್ರಹಸ್ತ, ವಿಚಿತ್ರ ತಂತ್ರಗಳಿಂದ ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಪುಣ, ಅಭೇದ್ಯ ಕವಚದಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಿತ, ಮತ್ತು ಹಿಂಡಿನ ನಾಯಕ ಗಜರಾಜನಂತೆ ದೀಪ್ತಿಮಾನನು.

Word by Word

• क्षिप्रहस्तः: having swift hands
• क्षिप्रहस्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप्रहस्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चित्रयोधी: skilled in varied/remarkable fighting
• चित्रयोधी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रयोधिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतः: considered; deemed
• मतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सेनापतिः: commander of the army
• सेनापतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनापति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मम: of me; my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• अभेद्यकवचः: wearing impenetrable armor
• अभेद्यकवचः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभेद्यकवच
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रीमान्: splendid; illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मातङ्गः: elephant
• मातङ्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like; as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• यूथपः: leader of a herd (elephant-leader)
• यूथपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• senāpati (army commander)
• kavaca (armor)
• mātaṅga (elephant)
• yūthapa (herd-leader)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic criteria for military leadership in a crisis: a commander should be swift in action, tactically versatile, well-protected (symbolizing steadiness and reliability), and capable of leading and inspiring the host like a herd-leader elephant.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the qualities that make Dhṛṣṭadyumna suitable to be appointed senāpati, praising his speed, skill in varied modes of combat, strong protection, and commanding presence.