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Shloka 62

Ādi-parva Adhyāya 132 — Duryodhana’s Instructions to Purocana at Vāraṇāvata

Lākṣāgṛha Planning

अश्वत्थामा रहस्येषु सर्वेष्वभ्यधिको5भवत्‌ | तथाति पुरुषानन्यान्‌ त्सारुकौ यमजावुभौ,अश्वत्थामा धर्नुर्वेदके रहस्योंकी जानकारीमें सबसे बढ़-चढ़कर हुआ। नकुल और सहदेव दोनों भाई तलवारकी मूठ पकड़कर युद्ध करनेमें अत्यन्त कुशल हुए। वे इस कलामें अन्य सब पुरुषोंसे बढ़-चढ़कर थे

aśvatthāmā rahasyeṣu sarveṣv abhyadhiko 'bhavat | tathāti puruṣān anyān tsārukau yamajāvu bhau ||

毗湿摩耶那说道:阿湿瓦他摩在弓术的一切秘传(特殊技法)中最为卓绝。又如那俱罗与娑诃提婆这对孪生兄弟,善于近身格斗,执剑握柄而战,在此武艺上亦胜过诸人。此段彰显诸勇士各擅一门:技艺若得其法而勤修,便在刹帝利之生涯与义务的展开中,成为其鲜明的标志。

अश्वत्थामाAshvatthama
अश्वत्थामा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअश्वत्थामन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
रहस्येषुin secrets / in esoteric matters
रहस्येषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरहस्य
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
सर्वेषुin all
सर्वेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
अभ्यधिकःsuperior, pre-eminent
अभ्यधिकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअभ्यधिक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभवत्was, became
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular
तथाlikewise, similarly
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
अतिexceedingly, beyond
अति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअति
पुरुषान्men, persons
पुरुषान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अन्यान्other
अन्यान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
त्सारुकौskilled with the sword-hilt / sword-handling (reading uncertain)
त्सारुकौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootत्सारुक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
यमजौthe twin-born (twins)
यमजौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयमज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
उभौboth
उभौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootउभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Aśvatthāmā
N
Nakula
S
Sahadeva
S
sword (as weapon/close-combat art)
S
secret techniques (rahasya) of archery/martial training

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores differentiated excellence: each warrior becomes outstanding through focused training in a particular discipline. In the ethical frame of the epic, such mastery is part of kṣatriya preparation—power is not random but cultivated, and it carries responsibility in later conflicts.

Vaiśampāyana is describing the martial proficiencies of key figures: Aśvatthāmā is foremost in specialized/secret aspects of archery, while the twins Nakula and Sahadeva are portrayed as surpassing others in sword-based close combat.