Mahabharata 1.187.19 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 187, Shloka 19

Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 187: Drupada’s Inquiry and the Dharma Debate on Draupadī’s Marriage

Devanagari script

यत्‌ पार्थिवै रुक्मसुनी थवक्रै: राधेयदुर्योधनशल्यशाल्चै: । तदा भरनुर्वेदपरैर्न॑सिंहै: कृतं न सज्यं महतो$पि यत्नात्‌

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: yat pārthivair Rukmasunīthavakraiḥ Rādheyaduryodhanaśalyaśālvaiḥ | tadā dhanuḥ-veda-parair nṛsiṃhaiḥ kṛtaṃ na sajyaṃ mahato 'pi yatnāt ||

Translation

ருக்மன், சுனீதன், வக்ரன், ராதேயன் கர்ணன், துரியோதனன், சல்யன், சால்வன் முதலிய வில்லியல் நிபுணரான சிங்கமெனும் அரசர்கள் பெருமுயற்சி செய்தும் நாணேற்ற முடியாத அந்த வில்லை.

Word by Word

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पार्थिवैः: by kings
• पार्थिवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रुक्मसुनीथवक्रैः: by (the kings) Rukma, Sunitha, and Vakra
• रुक्मसुनीथवक्रैः: Karana
• Type: ProperNoun
• Root: रुक्म + सुनीथ + वक्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• राधेयदुर्योधनशल्यशाल्वैः: by Radheya (Karna), Duryodhana, Shalya, and Shalva
• राधेयदुर्योधनशल्यशाल्वैः: Karana
• Type: ProperNoun
• Root: राधेय + दुर्योधन + शल्य + शाल्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• धनुर्वेदपरैः: by those devoted/versed in archery
• धनुर्वेदपरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुर्वेदपर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नृसिंहैः: by lion-like men (heroes)
• नृसिंहैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कृतम्: done / made
• कृतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• सज्यम्: strung (with a bowstring)
• सज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• महता: with great
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: even / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• यत्नात्: from effort; with effort
• यत्नात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• Indra
• Viṣṇu
• Rukma
• Sunītha
• Vakra
• Karna (Rādheya)
• Duryodhana
• Śalya
• Śālva
• bow
• bowstring
• five arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights that true excellence is demonstrated through effortless mastery born of discipline and innate capability; it also cautions that pride in prowess is a recurring trait among warriors, often setting the stage for rivalry and ethical tests in the epic.

What is happening in the narrative?

A formidable bow that many renowned kings and expert archers cannot string even with great effort is strung quickly by Arjuna; after stringing it, he takes up the five arrows, marking his superiority in the contest and advancing the episode’s competitive tension.