Shloka 10

Śikhaṇḍinī’s Disclosure, Drupada’s Counsel, and the Petition to Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa

Udyoga Parva 192

Devanagari script

आर्जवेनैव युद्धेन योद्धव्य इतरो जन: । मायायुद्धेन मायावी इत्येतद्‌ धर्मनिश्चय:

Transliteration

ārjavenaiva yuddhena yoddhavya itaro janaḥ | māyāyuddhena māyāvī ity etad dharma-niścayaḥ ||

Translation

ਸਧਾਰਣ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਿੱਧੇ ਤੇ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਲੜਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ; ਪਰ ਜੋ ਮਾਇਆਵੀ ਹੋਵੇ, ਉਸ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਮਾਇਆ-ਯੁੱਧ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ—ਇਹੀ ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਯ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• आर्जवेन: with straightforwardness
• आर्जवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• युद्धेन: by/with battle
• युद्धेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• योद्धव्यम्: must be fought
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Passive sense (obligation), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इतरः: the other/ordinary
• इतरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनः: person/people
• जनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मायायुद्धेन: by deceptive/illusory warfare
• मायायुद्धेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायायुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मायावी: a deceiver/one who uses tricks
• मायावी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus/so (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• एतत्: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मनिश्चयः: the determination/decision of dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मनिश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma states a rule of proportional conduct in warfare: fight honestly with those who fight honestly, but when facing a deceitful opponent, counter-deception is permitted as a dharmic response.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhīṣma articulates guidance on proper conduct in impending conflict, distinguishing between ordinary combatants and those who employ māyā (deceptive tactics).