Shloka 19

Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam

A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement

Devanagari script

न नूनमस्त्राणि बल॑ पराक्रम: क्रिया: सुनीतं परमायुधानि वा । अलं मनुष्यस्य सुखाय वर्तितुं तथा हि युद्धे निहतः परैर्गुरु:,“निश्चय ही अस्त्र, बल, पराक्रम, क्रिया, अच्छी नीति अथवा उत्तम आयुध आदि किसी मनुष्यको सुख पहुँचानेके लिये पर्याप्त नहीं हैं; क्योंकि इन सब साधनोंके होते हुए भी आचार्यको शत्रुओंने युद्धमें मार डाला है

Transliteration

na nūnam astrāṇi balaṁ parākramaḥ kriyāḥ sunītaṁ paramāyudhāni vā | alaṁ manuṣyasya sukhāya vartituṁ tathā hi yuddhe nihataḥ parair guruḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Sanjaya: Tunay ngang ang mga sandata, lakas, kabayanihan, bihasang pagkilos, mabuting patakaran, o maging ang pinakamainam na armas ay hindi sapat upang tiyakin ang kaligayahan ng tao; sapagkat kahit taglay ang lahat ng ito, ang iginagalang na guro ay napatay pa rin ng mga kaaway sa digmaan.

Word by Word

नnot

नूनम्surely, indeed

अस्त्राणिweapons (missiles)

बलम्strength

पराक्रमःvalor, prowess

क्रियाःactions, efforts

सुनीतम्good policy, good conduct

परमायुधानिsupreme weapons

वाor

अलम्sufficient, enough

मनुष्यस्यof a man

सुखायfor happiness

वर्तितुम्to lead to, to suffice for (lit. to occur/turn out)

तथाthus, in that way

हिindeed, for

युद्धेin battle

निहतःslain

परैःby others, by enemies

गुरुःthe teacher (preceptor)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Guru (Droṇācārya)

astrāṇi (weapons)

paramāyudhāni (excellent arms)

yuddha (battle)

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?

Worldly supports—arms, strength, bravery, skill, and even wise strategy—cannot guarantee happiness or security; in war especially, outcomes can overturn merit and preparation, as shown by the fall of the revered teacher.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reflects on the grim reality of the battlefield: despite possessing every martial advantage and being a great preceptor, the guru (Droṇa) was nevertheless killed by enemies, underscoring the precariousness of human plans in war.