Shloka 22

धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa

Devanagari script

दिवि शक्रमिव श्रेष्ठ महामात्र धनुर्भुताम्‌

Transliteration

divi śakram iva śreṣṭha mahāmātra dhanurbhutām

Translation

持国王将一位首屈一指的勇士——弓手之中卓然的统帅——比作天界的帝释天（因陀罗），以彰显这般武功即便在战争的道德幽暗中也令人敬畏。

Word by Word

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• शक्रम्: Indra
• शक्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• श्रेष्ठम्: the best, excellent
• श्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महामात्रम्: a great officer/commander
• महामात्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामात्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धनुर्भृताम्: of the bow-bearers (archers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्धर/धनुर्भृत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Śakra (Indra)
• bow (dhanus)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line underscores how worldly power and martial brilliance can appear godlike, yet such admiration in a war setting invites reflection on dharma: excellence in arms is impressive, but ethical judgment must not be eclipsed by mere splendor.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Drona Parva’s war narration, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reacts to reports of battlefield prowess by praising a leading commander among archers, likening him to Indra in heaven to convey extraordinary stature and dominance.