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Shloka 16

Tilottamā, Sunda–Upasunda, and the Pāṇḍava Samaya (Ādi Parva 204)

कथं हि पाण्डव: श्रीमान्‌ सव्यसाची धनंजय: । शक्यो विजेतुं संग्रामे राजन्‌ मघवतापि हि,राजन! दायें-बायें दोनों हाथोंसे बाण चलानेवाले श्रीमान्‌ पाण्डुकुमार धनंजयको साक्षात्‌ इन्द्र भी युद्धमें कैसे जीत सकते हैं?

kathaṃ hi pāṇḍavaḥ śrīmān savyasācī dhanañjayaḥ | śakyo vijetuṃ saṅgrāme rājan maghavatāpi hi ||

Видура, обращаясь к царю с острым нравственным предостережением, спросил: «Как можно одолеть в битве славного Пандава Дхананджаю—Арджуну, прозванного Савьясачи за умение стрелять из лука обеими руками? О царь, даже сам Магхават (Индра) едва ли смог бы победить его на войне.»

कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
पाण्डवःthe Pandava (Arjuna)
पाण्डवः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्रीमान्glorious/fortunate
श्रीमान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रीमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सव्यसाचीambidextrous archer
सव्यसाची:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसव्यसाचिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजयः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शक्यःpossible/able (to be)
शक्यः:
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विजेतुम्to conquer
विजेतुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootजि
FormInfinitive (tumun)
संग्रामेin battle
संग्रामे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसंग्राम
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
मघवताby Maghavat (Indra)
मघवता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमघवत्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
हिindeed
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
A
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya, Savyasācī)
I
Indra (Maghavat)
K
King (rājan; addressed figure)

Educational Q&A

Vidura emphasizes prudent, dharmic statecraft: do not provoke a just and extraordinarily capable opponent out of pride. Ethical governance requires realistic assessment, restraint, and avoidance of unjust conflict that leads to self-destruction.

Vidura addresses the king (in context, the Kuru ruler) and highlights Arjuna’s unmatched martial skill—so great that even Indra is invoked as an insufficient conqueror—thereby warning against pursuing war or hostility toward the Pāṇḍavas.