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Shloka 18

Adhyāya 20 — Rājadharma Argument for Paternal Inheritance and Timely Conciliation

एकादशैता: पृतना एकतश्न समागता: । एकतश्च महाबाहुर्बहुरूपी धनंजय:,'ये कौरवोंकी ग्यारह अक्षौहिणी सेनाएँ एक ओरसे आवें और दूसरी ओर केवल अनेक रूपधारी- महाबाहु अर्जुन हों, तो वे अकेले ही इन सबके लिये पर्याप्त हैं

ekādaśaitāḥ pṛtanā ekataś ca samāgatāḥ | ekataś ca mahābāhur bahurūpī dhanañjayaḥ ||

اگر کوروؤں کی یہ گیارہ اَکشَوہِنی فوجیں ایک طرف جمع ہو جائیں اور دوسری طرف صرف بہروپی، مہاباہو دھننجے ارجن کھڑا ہو—تو وہ اکیلا ہی ان سب کے مقابلے کے لیے کافی ہے۔

एकादशeleven
एकादश:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootएकादश
Formfeminine, nominative, plural
एताःthese
एताः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
Formfeminine, nominative, plural
पृतनाःarmies
पृतनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपृतना
Formfeminine, nominative, plural
एकतःon one side
एकतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएकतः
समागताःassembled / come together
समागताः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-गम्
Formfeminine, nominative, plural, क्त (past passive participle)
एकतःon one side
एकतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएकतः
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महाबाहुःmighty-armed
महाबाहुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबाहु
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
बहुरूपीof many forms
बहुरूपी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबहुरूपिन्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय
Formmasculine, nominative, singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
K
Kaurava armies (eleven akṣauhiṇīs, implied)

Educational Q&A

Numerical superiority is not decisive when opposed by a single warrior of extraordinary capability and righteous resolve; the verse highlights the primacy of inner strength, skill, and dharmic backing over mere quantity.

Vaiśampāyana describes a stark contrast of forces: the Kauravas’ eleven battle-hosts on one side, and Arjuna alone on the other, emphasizing Arjuna’s formidable power and readiness to confront overwhelming opposition.