Shloka 14

Daitya-āśvāsana of Duryodhana; Karṇa’s assurance and the mobilization of the Kaurava host

Devanagari script

अकृतास्त्रेण पृथिवी जिता बीभत्सुना पुरा । कि पुनः स कृतास्त्रोडद्य न हन्याद्‌ वो महारथ:,पहले जब अर्जुनको दिव्यास्त्र नहीं प्राप्त हुए थे, तभी उन्होंने सारी पृथ्वीको जीत लिया था। अब तो महारथी अर्जुन दिव्यास्त्रोंके विद्वान्‌ हैं, ऐसी दशामें वे तुम्हें मार डालें, यह कौन बड़ी बात है?

Transliteration

akṛtāstreṇa pṛthivī jitā bībhatsunā purā | ki punaḥ sa kṛtāstro ’dya na hanyād vo mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രൻ പറഞ്ഞു: മുമ്പ് ബീഭത്സു (അർജുനൻ) ദിവ്യാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ പ്രാവീണ്യം നേടാത്തപ്പോഴും ഭൂമിയെ ജയിച്ചിരുന്നു. ഇപ്പോൾ അവൻ ദിവ്യാസ്ത്രവിദ്യയിൽ നിപുണനായിരിക്കെ—ആ മഹാരഥൻ നിങ്ങളെ വധിക്കുന്നത് എന്ത് വലിയ കാര്യം?

Word by Word

अकृतास्त्रेणby one who had not obtained/used divine weapons

पृथिवीthe earth

जिताwas conquered

बीभत्सुनाby Bhībhatsu (Arjuna)

पुराformerly, earlier

किwhat? (then how much more?)

पुनःagain; moreover

सःhe (that one)

कृतास्त्रःone who has obtained/masters weapons (divine missiles)

अद्यtoday, now

नnot

हन्यात्would kill

वःyou (pl.) / of you

महारथःthe great chariot-warrior

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Arjuna (Bībhatsu)

Pṛthivī (the earth/kingdoms)

Divyāstras (celestial weapons, implied by kṛtāstra)

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 underscores a pragmatic moral warning: past capability is evidence of present danger, and greater training only amplifies responsibility and consequence. It highlights how power, once refined (kṛtāstra), makes harm easier—therefore one should act with foresight and restraint rather than complacency.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on Arjuna’s proven prowess: even before obtaining divine weapons he had subdued vast realms; now, as a master of celestial missiles, Arjuna’s ability to destroy opponents is beyond doubt. The statement functions as a fearful assessment of the Pandava hero’s military superiority.