Shloka 18

अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)

Devanagari script

दुर्योधन उवाच सत्यवाग्‌ भव कल्याण वरो वै मम दीयताम्‌ | सर्वसेनाप्रणेता वै भवान्‌ भवितुमहति

Transliteration

duryodhana uvāca satyavāg bhava kalyāṇa varo vai mama dīyatām | sarvasenāpraṇetā vai bhavān bhavitum arhati ||

Translation

దుర్యోధనుడు పలికెను—“కల్యాణమయ మహానుభావా! మీ వాక్యం సత్యమగుగాక; నాకు తప్పక వరం ప్రసాదించండి. నా సమస్త సేనకు నాయకుడుగా, సేనాధిపతిగా మీరు కావలసినవారే.”

Word by Word

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्यवाक्: truth-speaking (one whose speech is true)
• सत्यवाक्: Sambodhana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यवाच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कल्याण: O auspicious one / O good one
• कल्याण: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्याण
• Form: Neuter, Vocative, Singular

• वरः: a boon
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• दीयताम्: let it be given
• दीयताम्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Imperative (Passive), Third, Singular, Passive

• सर्वसेनाप्रणेता: leader/commander of the entire army
• सर्वसेनाप्रणेता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसेनाप्रणेता
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवितुम्: to be / to become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हति: is fit / deserves
• अर्हति: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the pursuit of power in a dharmic crisis often takes the form of seeking authoritative command; ethically, it invites reflection on whether leadership is sought for righteous protection or for domination in an impending war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana addresses an honored person and requests a boon: that the addressee accept the role of supreme commander over Duryodhana’s entire army, signaling strategic preparations for the coming conflict.