Mahabharata 7.203.2 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 203, Shloka 2
ततस्ते सैनिका राजन् नैव तत्रावतस्थिरे । संस्थाप्यमाना यत्नेन गोविन्देनारजुनेन च,नरेश्वर! श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनके द्वारा प्रयत्नपूर्वक ठहराये जानेपर भी वे सैनिक वहाँ खड़े न हो सके
tatas te sainikā rājan naiva tatrāvatasthire | saṃsthāpyamānā yatnena govindenārjunena ca ||
அப்போது, அரசே! உமது வீரர்கள் அங்கே எவ்விதமும் நிலைநிறுத்த முடியவில்லை. கோவிந்தனும் அர்ஜுனனும் முயன்று ஒழுங்குபடுத்தினாலும் அவர்கள் உறுதியாக நிற்க இயலவில்லை।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war and in ethical struggle, mere command or external support may not suffice when inner resolve collapses. Even exemplary leaders (Krishna and Arjuna) cannot make a force stand if fear and disarray have overtaken it—pointing to the primacy of courage, discipline, and steadiness (dhairya) in upholding one’s duty.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the king’s soldiers failed to maintain their position. Despite Krishna (Govinda) and Arjuna actively trying to rally and re-form them, the troops could not be stabilized and did not stand their ground.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.