Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 1453

कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line

निहन्तुं दानवान्‌ सर्वान्‌ कृतास्त्रान्‌ युद्धदुर्मदान्‌ । परशुराम बोले--देवेश्वर! मैं तो अस्त्रविद्याका ज्ञाता नहीं हूँ। फिर युद्धस्थलमें अस्त्रविद्याके ज्ञाता तथा रणदुर्मद समस्त दानवोंका वध करनेके लिये मुझमें क्या शक्ति है?

nihantuṁ dānavān sarvān kṛtāstrān yuddha-durmadān |

Rāma berkata: “Bagaimanakah mungkin aku membunuh semua Dānava—mereka yang telah mahir sepenuhnya dalam ilmu senjata dan mabuk oleh keangkuhan medan perang?” Dalam ujaran ini, dia menonjolkan kerendahan hati dan kewarasan: niat moral semata-mata tidak memadai dalam perang; kecekapan dan kemampuan yang sah juga diperlukan sebelum melakukan kekerasan.

निहन्तुम्to slay
निहन्तुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-हन्
Formtumun (infinitive)
दानवान्demons (Dānavas)
दानवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदानव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सर्वान्all
सर्वान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कृतास्त्रान्those who have prepared/possess weapons (armed)
कृतास्त्रान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootकृतास्त्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
युद्धदुर्मदान्arrogant/maddened in battle
युद्धदुर्मदान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootयुद्धदुर्मद
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural

राम उवाच

R
Rāma
D
Dānavas
A
Astra (weapon/missile-weapons)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that righteous aims in warfare must be matched by actual capability and preparedness; humility and honest self-assessment are part of dharma, especially when violence is contemplated.

Rāma speaks in doubt, questioning how he could defeat all the Dānavas who are skilled in astras and emboldened by battle-pride, thereby expressing the daunting nature of the opponents and his own perceived limitation.