Shloka 31

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration

Sañjaya’s Report

Devanagari script

यदा द्रष्टा द्रौपदेयान्‌ महेषून्‌ शूरान्‌ कृतास्त्रान्‌ रथयुद्धकोविदान्‌ | आशीविषान्‌ घोरविषानिवायत- स्तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | yadā draṣṭā draupadeyān maheṣūn śūrān kṛtāstrān rathayuddhakovidān | āśīviṣān ghoraviṣān ivāyatas tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro 'nvatapsyat ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Apabila Duryodhana menyaksikan putera-putera Draupadī—pemanah perkasa, wira, terlatih sempurna dalam senjata, dan mahir dalam perang kereta—maju seperti ular berbisa yang membawa maut, maka di tengah-tengah pertempuran, putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra akan disergap penyesalan yang pahit kerana telah menggerakkan perang ini.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा
• Form: temporal adverb

• द्रष्टा: will see / is about to see
• द्रष्टा: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: future active participle (कर्तरि), nominative singular masculine

• द्रौपदेयान्: the sons of Draupadī (Draupadeyas)
• द्रौपदेयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदेय
• Form: masculine, accusative plural

• महेषून्: great-armed / having great arrows (mighty archers)
• महेषून्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेषु
• Form: masculine, accusative plural

• शूरान्: heroes, valiant men
• शूरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: masculine, accusative plural

• कृतास्त्रान्: trained in weapons (having mastered weapons)
• कृतास्त्रान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतास्त्र
• Form: masculine, accusative plural

• रथयुद्धकोविदान्: skilled in chariot-fighting
• रथयुद्धकोविदान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथयुद्धकोविद
• Form: masculine, accusative plural

• आशीविषान्: venomous serpents (āśīviṣa)
• आशीविषान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीविष
• Form: masculine, accusative plural

• घोरविषान्: of terrible poison
• घोरविषान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोरविष
• Form: masculine, accusative plural

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव
• Form: comparative particle

• आयत: extended, long
• आयत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत
• Form: masculine, accusative plural (agreeing with implied 'सर्पान्')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: temporal adverb

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: neuter, locative singular

• धार्तराष्ट्रः: the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana)
• धार्तराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: masculine, nominative singular

• अन्वतप्स्यत्: will regret / will be tormented (with remorse)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप्
• Form: future, parasmaipada, 3rd person singular (अनु + तप्)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana (Dhārtarāṣṭra)
• Draupadī
• Draupadeyas (sons of Draupadī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical consequence of initiating unjust conflict: when the reality of violence and its capable opponents becomes undeniable, pride collapses into remorse. It implies that adharma-driven choices may feel powerful at first but culminate in suffering and regret.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya foretells Duryodhana’s reaction in battle: upon seeing the Draupadeyas—expert, formidable chariot-warriors—advance like deadly serpents, Duryodhana will be tormented by regret for having provoked the war.