Shloka 4

भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces

Bhīṣma–Droṇa council

Devanagari script

आहवेषु परॉल्लोकान्‌ जिगीषन्तो महाबला: । एकाग्रमनस: सर्वे श्रद्दधाना: परस्परम्‌

Transliteration

āhaveṣu parāṁl lokān jigīṣanto mahābalāḥ | ekāgramanasaḥ sarve śraddadhānāḥ parasparam ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: Sa mga sagupaan ng digmaan, ang mga mandirigmang makapangyarihan, na nagnanais magwagi ng mga pinakamataas na daigdig sa kabila, ay nagpanatili ng lubos na pagtuon ng isip. Nagtiwala sila sa isa’t isa, at sa pagtitiwalang iyon ay nagpatuloy sa paglusob.

Word by Word

• आहवेषु: in battles
• आहवेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• परान्: higher, supreme
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• लोकान्: worlds/realms
• लोकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जिगीषन्तः: wishing to conquer
• जिगीषन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle), —

• महाबलाः: mighty/very strong (men)
• महाबलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एकाग्र-मनसः: with concentrated minds
• एकाग्र-मनसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाग्र-मनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• श्रद्दधानाः: trusting, having faith
• श्रद्दधानाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रद्-धा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, शानच् (present middle participle), —

• परस्परम्: mutually; in one another
• परस्परम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: disciplined focus (ekāgratā) and mutual trust (paraspara-śraddhā) in pursuing a goal believed to be righteous and rewarding—here framed as winning ‘higher worlds’ through courageous action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a group of mighty warriors preparing for or engaging in battle: they are intent on victory and the honor/merit associated with it, acting with concentrated minds and confidence in one another.