Shloka 10

Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 52: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Strength and the Case for Restraint

Devanagari script

धृत्या च पुरुषव्याप्रो नैभृत्येन च पाण्डव: । अनृशंसो वदान्यश्व हीमान्‌ सत्यपराक्रम:

Transliteration

dhṛtyā ca puruṣavyāpro naibhṛtyena ca pāṇḍavaḥ | anṛśaṃso vadānyaś ca hīmān satyaparākramaḥ ||

Translation

持国王说道：“那位般度之子以坚忍之志而精进有力，以忠诚之事而自持有度。他慈悲而慷慨，能克制自身；其勇武以真实为根基。”

Word by Word

• धृत्या: by steadfastness
• धृत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• पुरुषव्याप्रः: active/engaged in manly effort
• पुरुषव्याप्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुषव्याप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नैभृत्येन: by humility/modesty (lit. by nai-bhṛtya)
• नैभृत्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैभृत्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• पाण्डवः: the Pandava
• पाण्डवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनृशंसः: compassionate, not cruel
• अनृशंसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृशंस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वदान्यः: generous
• वदान्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वदान्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अश्वहीमान्: possessing excellent horses / rich in horses
• अश्वहीमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्वहीमन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्यपराक्रमः: of true valor / whose prowess is true
• सत्यपराक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यपराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Pāṇḍava

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical portrait of ideal leadership: true strength is not mere force but disciplined energy guided by compassion, generosity, self-restraint, and truth. Valor becomes dharmic when it is anchored in satya and tempered by non-cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the qualities of a Pāṇḍava prince, acknowledging his moral and martial excellence—steadfast resolve, disciplined conduct, humane disposition, and truth-based heroism—qualities that heighten the gravity of opposing him.