Shloka 21

Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)

Devanagari script

अस्मत्कृते त्वया कृष्ण वाच: सुपरुषा: श्रुता: । शस्त्राणां च निपाता वै वज्रस्पर्शोपमा रणे

Transliteration

asmatkṛte tvayā kṛṣṇa vācaḥ supuruṣāḥ śrutāḥ | śastrāṇāṃ ca nipātā vai vajrasparśopamā raṇe ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ— ହେ କୃଷ୍ଣ! ଆମ ପାଇଁ ତୁମେ ଅନେକ କଠୋର ଓ ହୃଦୟବିଦାରକ କଥା ଶୁଣିଲ; ଏବଂ ରଣରେ ବଜ୍ରସ୍ପର୍ଶସମ ଶସ୍ତ୍ରପ୍ରହାର ମଧ୍ୟ ସହିଲ। ଏହିପରି ତୁମ ପକ୍ଷର ଧର୍ମ ରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ତୁମେ ବାଚିକ ଓ କାୟିକ—ଦୁଇ ପ୍ରକାର ଦୁଃଖ ଗ୍ରହଣ କଲ।

Word by Word

• अस्मत्कृते: for our sake
• अस्मत्कृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् + कृत (कृ)
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• वाचः: words, speeches
• वाचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: feminine, accusative, plural

• सुपरुषाः: very harsh
• सुपरुषाः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + पुरुष (पुरुष)
• Form: feminine, accusative, plural

• श्रुताः: heard
• श्रुताः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रुत (श्रु)
• Form: perfective (past participle), plural

• शस्त्राणाम्: of weapons
• शस्त्राणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: neuter, genitive, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निपाताः: blows, strikes
• निपाताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निपात
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• वज्रस्पर्शोपमाः: like the touch of a thunderbolt
• वज्रस्पर्शोपमाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + स्पर्श + उपम (उपमा)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Kṛṣṇa
• śastra (weapons)
• vajra (thunderbolt)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical endurance: a leader or protector may accept humiliation and bodily danger for the welfare of others. Kṛṣṇa’s willingness to bear harsh speech and violent blows exemplifies self-sacrifice in service of dharma and the community he supports.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana recounts how Kṛṣṇa, for the sake of his allies, tolerated severe verbal abuse and withstood weapon-strikes in battle—described as ‘thunderbolt-like’ in their impact—emphasizing the intensity of the conflict and Kṛṣṇa’s steadfast support.