Shloka 19

Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam

A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement

Devanagari script

न नूनमस्त्राणि बल॑ पराक्रम: क्रिया: सुनीतं परमायुधानि वा । अलं मनुष्यस्य सुखाय वर्तितुं तथा हि युद्धे निहतः परैर्गुरु:

Transliteration

na nūnam astrāṇi balaṁ parākramaḥ kriyāḥ sunītaṁ paramāyudhāni vā | alaṁ manuṣyasya sukhāya vartituṁ tathā hi yuddhe nihataḥ parair guruḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର, ବଳ, ପରାକ୍ରମ, କୁଶଳ କ୍ରିୟା, ସୁନୀତି କିମ୍ବା ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଆୟୁଧ—ଏସବୁ ମନୁଷ୍ୟର ସୁଖ ପାଇଁ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାପ୍ତ ନୁହେଁ; କାରଣ ଏସବୁ ସାଧନ ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଗୁରୁ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ନିହତ ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

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

• नूनम्: surely, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम्

• अस्त्राणि: weapons (missiles)
• अस्त्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• पराक्रमः: valor, prowess
• पराक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• क्रियाः: actions, efforts
• क्रियाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• सुनीतम्: good policy, good conduct
• सुनीतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनीत
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• परमायुधानि: supreme weapons
• परमायुधानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-आयुध
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• अलम्: sufficient, enough
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम्

• मनुष्यस्य: of a man
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• सुखाय: for happiness
• सुखाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: neuter, dative, singular

• वर्तितुम्: to lead to, to suffice for (lit. to occur/turn out)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), parasmaipada (usage-neutral infinitive)

• तथा: thus, in that way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

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

• निहतः: slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• परैः: by others, by enemies
• परैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• गुरुः: the teacher (preceptor)
• गुरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Guru (Droṇācārya)
• astrāṇi (weapons)
• paramāyudhāni (excellent arms)
• yuddha (battle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly supports—arms, strength, bravery, skill, and even wise strategy—cannot guarantee happiness or security; in war especially, outcomes can overturn merit and preparation, as shown by the fall of the revered teacher.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reflects on the grim reality of the battlefield: despite possessing every martial advantage and being a great preceptor, the guru (Droṇa) was nevertheless killed by enemies, underscoring the precariousness of human plans in war.