Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 14

Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)

Devanagari script

अद्य पश्यन्तु मां लोका विचरन्तमभीतवत्‌

Transliteration

adya paśyantu māṃ lokā vicarantam abhītavat, iti satyaṃ bravīmy eṣa duryodhana na saṃśayaḥ |

Translation

ଆଜି ଲୋକମାନେ ମୋତେ ଭୟହୀନ ଭାବେ ବିଚରୁଥିବା ଦେଖୁନ୍ତୁ। ଦୁର୍ୟୋଧନ! ମୁଁ ଏହା ସତ୍ୟ କହୁଛି— ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य
• Form: indeclinable (temporal adverb)

• पश्यन्तु: let (them) see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 3rd person, plural, parasmaipada

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: pronoun, accusative, singular

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• विचरन्तम्: moving about/roaming
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर्
• Form: present active participle (शतृ), accusative, singular, masculine (agreeing with माम्)

• अभीतवत्: fearlessly
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीतवत्
• Form: indeclinable-like adjective in -वत्; used adverbially (manner)

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: quotative particle

• सत्यं: truth / truly
• सत्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular (used adverbially: 'truly')

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लट् (present), 1st person, singular, parasmaipada

• एषः: this (statement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: pronoun, masculine, nominative, singular

• दुर्योधन: O Duryodhana
• दुर्योधन: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• न: not/no
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: negation particle

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• lokāḥ (people/world)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the psychology of war: fearlessness and public reputation are invoked to strengthen resolve, yet the insistence “I speak the truth—no doubt” also exposes how certainty can become pride. In the Mahabharata’s ethical frame, such confidence must be weighed against dharma and the limits of human control over outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Duryodhana a warrior’s declaration: “Let the world see me fearless today.” The statement functions as a morale-boosting assurance to Duryodhana that the speaker will act boldly and without hesitation in the coming battle.