📿 Shloka Collection

Anye Cha Bahavah Shurah

Gita 1.9 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 1 — Arjuna Vishada Yoga
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥
Anye cha bahavah shura madarthe tyaktajivitah
Nanashastra-praharanah sarve yuddha-visharadah
अन्ये
others
बहवः
many
शूराः
heroes
मदर्थे
for my sake
त्यक्तजीविताः
prepared to give up their lives
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः
armed with many kinds of weapons
सर्वे
all
युद्धविशारदाः
skilled in the art of war

After naming the top generals, Duryodhana sweeps his hand across the rest of the army. He tells Drona: "Beyond these, there are many more heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. They carry all manner of weapons and are thoroughly skilled in warfare."

Pay attention to the phrase "madarthe tyaktajivitah" (prepared to die for my sake). Duryodhana believes all these warriors are fighting for him personally. In reality, most of them were bound by duty, oath, or loyalty to the throne of Hastinapur, not to Duryodhana as a person. His words reveal an ego that mistakes obligation for devotion.

The Kaurava army was vast in numbers and rich in weaponry. But as the Gita will go on to show, the size of an army does not decide victory. The side that has dharma has the greater strength.

With this shloka, Duryodhana's listing of Kaurava warriors is complete. In the next verse (1.10), he will compare the two armies' strength.

The word "yuddha-visharadah" (skilled in warfare) underscores that the Kaurava army was experienced and well-trained. Yet despite this advantage, dharma ultimately prevailed. That is the enduring message of the Mahabharata.

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