Shloka 23

Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)

Devanagari script

न ते नियुद्धे न जवे न योग्यासु कदाचन | कुमारा उत्तरं चक्कुः स्पर्धभाना वृकोदरम्‌

Transliteration

na te niyuddhe na jave na yogyāsu kadācana | kumārā uttaraṃ cakṣuḥ spardhamānā vṛkodaram ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Trong đấu luyện theo phép tắc, trong tốc độ, và trong mọi môn rèn luyện, các vương tử—con của Dhṛtarāṣṭra—dẫu luôn gắng sức tranh đua, cũng chẳng bao giờ vượt qua, thậm chí không thể sánh ngang Vṛkodara (Bhīma). Đoạn này nêu bật ưu thế bẩm sinh của Bhīma và báo trước mầm ghen ghét, đối địch sẽ dần hóa thành thù hằn công khai về sau.

Word by Word

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

• ते: of you / your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: any, genitive, singular

• नियुद्धे: in combat / in fighting
• नियुद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियुद्ध
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• न: nor
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• जवे: in speed / in running
• जवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• न: nor
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• योग्यासु: in exercises / in trainings
• योग्यासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग्या
• Form: feminine, locative, plural

• कदाचन: ever / at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

• कुमाराः: the princes (sons)
• कुमाराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• उत्तरम्: an answer / reply
• उत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चक्रुः: made / did / gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada

• स्पर्धमानाः: competing / vying
• स्पर्धमानाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पर्ध्
• Form: present active participle (śatṛ), masculine, nominative, plural

• वृकोदरम्: Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• वृकोदरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृकोदर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons (Kauravas)
• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence without humility can breed resentment: Bhīma’s unmatched prowess becomes a moral pressure-point in the royal household, showing how rivalry and envy can take root when comparisons dominate relationships.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the princes’ martial and physical training, the Kaurava princes repeatedly compete with Bhīma in combat practice, running, and exercises, but they fail to equal him, highlighting Bhīma’s superiority and the Kauravas’ growing frustration.