Shloka 11

धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama

Devanagari script

ते देवैः सहिता: पार्था न शक्या: प्रतिवीक्षितुम्‌ । मानुषेण नरव्याप्रा वीर्यवन्तो<स्त्रपारगा:,“नरश्रेष्ठ पाण्डव अस्त्रविद्याके पारंगत और पराक्रमी तो हैं ही, देवताओंका सहयोग भी प्राप्त कर चुके हैं; अतः कोई मनुष्य उनकी ओर आँख उठाकर देख भी नहीं सकता

Transliteration

te devaiḥ sahitāḥ pārthā na śakyāḥ prativīkṣitum | mānuṣeṇa naravyāprā vīryavanto 'strapāragāḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Партхи, укреплённые поддержкой богов, таковы, что ни один простой человек не в силах даже взглянуть им в лицо. Занятые делами людей, они наделены героической мощью и совершенным знанием оружия, превосходя всякое обычное противостояние.

Word by Word

तेthey/those

देवैःby/with the gods

सहिताḥaccompanied/associated (with)

पार्थाःthe sons of Pṛthā (Pāṇḍavas)

नnot

शक्याःpossible/able (to be)

प्रतिवीक्षितुम्to look at/face, to behold

मानुषेणby a man/by a human

नरव्याप्राःengaged in manly deeds/heroic exertions

वीर्यवन्तःpossessing valor/strength

अस्त्रपारगाःhaving mastered weapons (lit. gone to the far shore of weapons)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)

Devas (gods)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power joined with dharma and divine favor makes righteous warriors formidable; therefore, one should act with prudence and ethical restraint, avoiding unjust aggression born of pride or envy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the Pāṇḍavas as extraordinarily strong—masters of weaponry and supported by the gods—emphasizing that ordinary human opponents cannot even withstand their presence, thereby heightening the stakes of the impending conflict.