Shloka 9

Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds

Devanagari script

वासितासंगमे यद्वदजय्यं प्रति यूथपै: । निजघान रणे वीरान्‌ वीर: पुरुषसत्तम:

Transliteration

vāsitāsaṅgame yadvad ajayyaṃ prati yūthapaiḥ | nijaghāna raṇe vīrān vīraḥ puruṣasattamaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Seperti dalam pertempuran rapat yang hiruk-pikuk, musuh yang tampak tidak terkalahkan ditumbangkan oleh para pemimpin kawanan yang bertindak seia sekata, demikianlah pahlawan utama itu menewaskan ramai para wira di medan perang.

Word by Word

वासितासंगमेin the encounter/meeting at Vāsitā (place-name)

यद्वत्just as, in the manner that

अजय्यम्unconquerable (one)

प्रतिagainst, towards

यूथपैःby the troop-leaders

निजघानslew, struck down

रणेin battle

वीरान्heroes, warriors

वीरःthe hero

पुरुषसत्तमःthe best of men

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

puruṣasattama (unnamed foremost hero)

vīrāḥ (heroes/warriors)

yūthapāḥ (leaders/chiefs, metaphorical herd-leaders)

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 highlights that what seems ‘unconquerable’ (ajayya) can be overcome through coordinated leadership and collective force (yūthapaiḥ), while also reminding the reader of the harsh moral reality of war—victory is often purchased through the destruction of many brave lives.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a foremost warrior (puruṣasattamaḥ) cutting down many heroes in the midst of battle, using a simile of herd-leaders bringing down a formidable opponent in a close clash to convey the intensity and decisiveness of the fighting.