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Shloka 18

Adhyāya 20 — Rājadharma Argument for Paternal Inheritance and Timely Conciliation

एकादशैता: पृतना एकतश्न समागता: । एकतश्च महाबाहुर्बहुरूपी धनंजय:

ekādaśaitāḥ pṛtanā ekataś ca samāgatāḥ | ekataś ca mahābāhur bahurūpī dhanañjayaḥ ||

കൌരവരുടെ ഈ പതിനൊന്ന് അക്ഷൗഹിണി സേനകൾ ഒരുവശത്ത് ഒന്നിച്ചുകൂടിയാലും, മറുവശത്ത് ബഹുരൂപധാരിയായ മഹാബാഹു ധനഞ്ജയൻ അർജുനൻ ഒരുത്തൻ മാത്രം നിന്നാലും—അവൻ ഒരുത്തൻ തന്നെ അവരെയെല്ലാം നേരിടാൻ മതിയാകും.

एकादशeleven
एकादश:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootएकादश
Formfeminine, nominative, plural
एताःthese
एताः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
Formfeminine, nominative, plural
पृतनाःarmies
पृतनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपृतना
Formfeminine, nominative, plural
एकतःon one side
एकतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएकतः
समागताःassembled / come together
समागताः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-गम्
Formfeminine, nominative, plural, क्त (past passive participle)
एकतःon one side
एकतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएकतः
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महाबाहुःmighty-armed
महाबाहुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबाहु
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
बहुरूपीof many forms
बहुरूपी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबहुरूपिन्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय
Formmasculine, nominative, singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
K
Kaurava armies (eleven akṣauhiṇīs, implied)

Educational Q&A

Numerical superiority is not decisive when opposed by a single warrior of extraordinary capability and righteous resolve; the verse highlights the primacy of inner strength, skill, and dharmic backing over mere quantity.

Vaiśampāyana describes a stark contrast of forces: the Kauravas’ eleven battle-hosts on one side, and Arjuna alone on the other, emphasizing Arjuna’s formidable power and readiness to confront overwhelming opposition.