Shloka 15

गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

क्रिया बलवती राजन्‌ नान्यत्‌ किंचिद्‌ युधिष्ठिर । दैत्याश्ष दानवाश्षैव राक्षसा: पार्थिवास्तथा

Transliteration

kriyā balavatī rājan nānyat kiñcid yudhiṣṭhira | daityāś ca dānavāś caiva rākṣasāḥ pārthivās tathā ||

Translation

风神伐由说道：“噢，国王由提施提罗，正当而为的行动最具威力；除此之外，实无他物能真正占上风。此理亦适用于底提耶与达那婆诸族，适用于罗刹众，亦同样适用于人间诸王。”

Word by Word

• क्रिया: action, effort
• क्रिया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (स्त्री., प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• बलवती: powerful, effective
• बलवती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• किंचित्: something, anything (at all)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित्

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दैत्याः: Daityas (demons)
• दैत्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दानवाः: Dānavas (demons)
• दानवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• राक्षसाः: Rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पार्थिवाः: kings, earthly rulers
• पार्थिवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: so, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Daityas
• Dānavas
• Rākṣasas
• Pārthivas (earthly kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes human (and cosmic) agency: effective action is the decisive force. Rather than relying on mere intention, status, or speculation, one must act rightly and decisively; this principle applies across beings—from asuras and rākṣasas to human kings.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses King Yudhiṣṭhira and underscores that outcomes in conflict and governance are shaped by powerful, well-executed action. He generalizes the point by citing various formidable groups (Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas) and also earthly rulers, implying that all are bound by the same law of efficacy through action.