Shloka 46

Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply

Devanagari script

न हास्य त्रिषु लोकेषु सदृशो$स्ति धनुर्धर:,“तीनों लोकोंमें अर्जुनके समान कोई धनुर्थर नहीं है

Transliteration

na hāsya triṣu lokeṣu sadṛśo 'sti dhanurdharaḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Dalam tiga alam, tiada pemanah yang setara dengannya.”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• अस्य: of him/of this (person)
• अस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• त्रिषु: in three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective (numeral)
• Root: त्रि
• Form: all, locative, plural

• लोकेषु: in the worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: masculine, locative, plural

• सदृशः: equal/similar (one)
• सदृशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: present, third, singular

• धनुर्धरः: bow-bearer/archer
• धनुर्धरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्धर
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna (implied by context)
• three worlds (trailokya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Exceptional ability—especially martial power—creates responsibility: the greatest warrior must ensure that his strength serves dharma and protection, not ego or unjust violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s build-up to war, the narrator Vaiśampāyana highlights the unmatched status of the principal archer (understood as Arjuna), underscoring why his presence decisively shapes the balance of power and the moral stakes of the impending battle.