Shloka 231
Devanagari script
अपि वा पज्च षट् सप्त संहता: कृतनिश्चया: । कुलीना: पूजिता: सम्यग् विजयन्तीह शात्रवान्
Transliteration
api vā pañca ṣaṭ sapta saṁhatāḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ | kulīnāḥ pūjitāḥ samyag vijayantīha śātravān ||
Translation
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അഞ്ചോ ആറോ ഏഴോ പേർ പോലും, ഒരുമിച്ച് ചേർന്ന്, ദൃഢനിശ്ചയത്തോടെ, കുലീനരായി, യഥാവിധി ആദരിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ, ഇവിടെ ശത്രുക്കളെ ജയിക്കും।
Word by Word
अपिeven; also; or else
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
पञ्चfive
पञ्च:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्च
Form—, Nominative, Plural
षट्six
षट्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootषष्
Form—, Nominative, Plural
सप्तseven
सप्त:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसप्त
Form—, Nominative, Plural
संहताःunited; gathered together
संहताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसंहत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
कृतनिश्चयाःhaving made a firm resolve; determined
कृतनिश्चयाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकृत-निश्चय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
कुलीनाःof noble family; well-born
कुलीनाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकुलीन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पूजिताःhonoured; worshipped; respected
पूजिताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपूजित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सम्यक्properly; duly; well
सम्यक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्यक्
विजयन्तिthey conquer; they win
विजयन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-जि
FormPresent, Third, Plural
इहhere; in this world
इह:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
शात्रवान्enemies; foes
शात्रवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशात्रव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
A small group can achieve victory when it is united, resolute, and properly respected; moral-social standing (kulīnatā) and due honor (pūjā) strengthen collective effectiveness more than sheer numbers.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction in the Śānti Parva, he highlights a practical principle of statecraft and ethics: cohesive, determined, and duly honored allies—even if few—can prevail over hostile forces.