Shloka 33

उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः

Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment

Devanagari script

इहैव ते निवर्तन्तां ये च केचन भीरव: । ये घातयेयु: प्रवरं कुर्वाणास्तुमुलं प्रति

Transliteration

ihaiva te nivartantāṁ ye ca kecana bhīravāḥ | ye ghātayeyuḥ pravaraṁ kurvāṇās tumulaṁ prati ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“胆怯者就从此处退回去吧。唯有那些能在可怖的战阵冲撞之中，斩杀敌方最强主将者，才应留下。”

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ते: they (those of you)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: any, Nominative, Plural

• निवर्तन्ताम्: let them return/withdraw
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत्
• Form: Imperative, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• केचन: some (any)
• केचन: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: क + चित् (केचन)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भीरवः: cowardly
• भीरवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• घातयेयुः: might cause to be slain / could slay
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (causative of हन्)
• Form: Optative, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रवरम्: the foremost (one)
• प्रवरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्वाणाः: doing/making (while doing)
• कुर्वाणाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (present active participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Parasmaipada (active participle)

• तुमुलम्: fierce, tumultuous
• तुमुलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुमुल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards/against
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Leadership in a crisis requires discernment: those lacking courage should withdraw rather than endanger the mission, while only the capable and resolute should remain to confront the enemy’s strongest force. The verse frames courage and competence as ethical prerequisites for undertaking violent duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma issues a battlefield-style directive: the timid are told to turn back immediately, and only those able to face a fierce engagement and bring down the opposing side’s chief champion are to stay. It functions as a test of resolve and readiness before a decisive confrontation.