Shloka 16

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 42 — Duryodhana’s counsel to Bhīṣma on ajñātavāsa risk and raid strategy

Devanagari script

निस्त्रिंशो5यं गुरु: पीत: सायक: परनिर्व्रण: । कस्यायमसित: खड््‌गो हेमबिन्दुभिरावृत:

Transliteration

nistriṁśo ’yaṁ guruḥ pītaḥ sāyakaḥ paranirvraṇaḥ | kasyāyam asitaḥ khaḍgo hemabindubhir āvṛtaḥ ||

Translation

ఉత్తరుడు అన్నాడు—ఈ నిస్త్రింశము భారమైనది, పీతవర్ణమైంది; ఈ బాణము శత్రువులకు ఘోర గాయం కలిగించేది. స్వర్ణబిందువులతో కప్పబడిన ఈ నల్ల ఖడ్గము ఎవరిది?

Word by Word

निस्त्रिंशःsword (scimitar-like blade)

अयम्this

गुरुःheavy

पीतःyellow/golden (in color)

सायकःarrow

परनिर्व्रणःcausing wounds to enemies / enemy-wounding

कस्यof whom?

अयम्this

असितःblack/dark

खड्गःsword

हेमबिन्दुभिःwith golden drops/dots (gold studs)

आवृतःcovered/encased

Speaker

उत्तर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Uttara

sword (nistriṁśa/khaḍga)

arrow (sāyaka)

golden studs/ornaments (hemabindu)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights discernment and responsibility in the use of power: before taking up weapons, one should know their owner and purpose, reflecting caution and ethical awareness amid impending conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttara examines the weapons at hand—remarking on a heavy, golden-hued sword and a foe-wounding arrow—and asks whose dark, gold-studded blade it is, indicating a moment of preparation and identification of martial equipment.