Shloka 87
Devanagari script
बलिनौ मतिमन्तौ च सुवृत्तौ चाप्युपासितौ | अशक्तौ तु नयात् तस्मात् सम्प्रधर्षयेतुं बलातू
Transliteration
balinau matimantau ca suvṛttau cāpyupāsitau | aśaktau tu nayāt tasmāt sampradharṣayetuṃ balāt ||
Translation
ते बलवान, बुद्धिमान, सुस्वभावी आणि सहाय्यकांनी युक्त होते; तरीही नीतिच्या प्रभावामुळे ते त्या दोघांवर बलपूर्वक हल्ला करण्यास असमर्थ झाले।
Word by Word
बलिनौtwo strong (ones)
बलिनौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबलिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
मतिमन्तौtwo intelligent (ones)
मतिमन्तौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमतिमन्त्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
सुवृत्तौtwo well-conducted / of good behavior
सुवृत्तौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुवृत्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अपिalso / even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
उपासितौtwo who were attended/served
उपासितौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootउप-आस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual, क्त (past passive participle)
अशक्तौtwo incapable / unable
अशक्तौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअशक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
तुbut
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
नयात्because of policy/strategy
नयात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootनय
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
तस्मात्therefore / from that
तस्मात्:
Apadana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular
सम्प्रधर्षयेतुम्to attack/assail
सम्प्रधर्षयेतुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-प्र-धृष्
Formतुमुन् (infinitive)
बलात्by force / forcibly
बलात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबल
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
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
Mere strength is not decisive; wise policy (naya)—such as alliances, diplomacy, and strategic restraint—can prevent a stronger party from successfully attacking, and can protect the vulnerable.
Bhīṣma is explaining a principle of nīti: even those who are strong, intelligent, and well-supported may become unable to act by force when confronted with effective strategy and political prudence.