Mahabharata 7.188.263 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 188, Shloka 263

Devanagari script

नैनमाशंसिरे जेतुं दानवा वासवं यथा । जैसे दानव इन्द्रको नहीं जीत सकते, वैसे ही शत्रुसैनिक शत्रुसेनाको ललकारते हुए मदस्रावी गजराजके समान द्रोणाचार्यको जीतनेका साहस नहीं कर सके

Transliteration

nainam āśaṃsire jetuṃ dānavā vāsavaṃ yathā |

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—جس طرح دانَو واسوَ (اندرا) کو فتح کرنے کی امید نہیں باندھ سکتے، اسی طرح دشمن لشکر للکارتے ہوئے بھی، مد سے بہتے ہوئے ہاتھیوں کے راجا کی مانند ناقابلِ تسخیر درون آچاریہ کو ہرانے کا حوصلہ نہ کر سکے۔

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आशंसिरे: hoped/expected
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-शंस्
• Form: perfect, 3rd, plural, ātmanepada

• जेतुम्: to conquer
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: infinitive (tumun)

• दानवाः: the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• वासवम्: Vāsava (Indra)
• वासवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• यथा: as/just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇācārya
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Dānavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and psychological dimension of war: a warrior’s established might and stature can deter aggression, showing that victory is shaped not only by weapons but also by confidence, reputation, and the perceived righteousness or authority of a leader.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the opposing soldiers, despite their loud challenges, could not even hope to defeat Droṇācārya. He is compared to Indra, whom the Dānavas cannot conquer—emphasizing Droṇa’s overwhelming dominance at this point in the battle.