Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 14

Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda

Disclosure and Consolation

Devanagari script

अक्षौहिणीभ्रि: शिष्टाभिननवभिरद्द्धिजसत्तम: । संवृत: समरश्लाघी गुप्त: कृपवृषादिभि:

Transliteration

akṣauhiṇībhiḥ śiṣṭābhir navabhir ṛddhijasattamaḥ | saṃvṛtaḥ samarāślāghī guptaḥ kṛpavṛṣādibhiḥ ||

Translation

婆苏提婆说道：“那位富盛之最者，被尚存的九支阿叉乌希尼从四面合围。虽其自身好战而以交锋为荣，却常得克利帕与弗里沙（迦尔纳）等人护持不绝。”

Word by Word

• अक्षौहिणीभिः: by/with (the) akṣauhiṇī armies
• अक्षौहिणीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• शिष्टाभिः: remaining, left over
• शिष्टाभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• नवभिः: by nine
• नवभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अद्धिजसत्तमः: the best of the descendants of Aditi (i.e., Indra)
• अद्धिजसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्धिजसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संवृतः: surrounded, enclosed
• संवृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समरश्लाघी: glorying in battle, battle-proud
• समरश्लाघी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समरश्लाघिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुप्तः: protected, guarded
• गुप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृपवृषादिभिः: by Kripa, Vṛṣa (Karna) and others
• कृपवृषादिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप-वृष-आदि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• Vṛṣa (Karna)
• nine akṣauhiṇīs (armies)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the epic tension between personal valor and the practical need for protection and support: even a battle-proud hero depends on allies and guardians. It implicitly critiques mere martial pride (āślāgha) by showing that strength in war is collective and contingent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva describes a warrior of great fortune being surrounded by the nine remaining military divisions. Although the warrior is eager for combat, he is kept safe by seasoned protectors—Kṛpācārya and Karṇa (called Vṛṣa) among others—indicating a guarded formation around him.