Mahabharata · 1.197.15–16
॥
Devanāgarī
यच् चाप्य् अशक्यतां तेषाम् आहतुः पुरुषर्षभौ ॥
तत् तथा पुरुषव्याघ्र तव तद् भद्रम् अस्तु ते ॥
कथं हि पाण्डवः श्रीमान् सव्यसाची परंतपः ॥
शक्यो विजेतुं संग्रामे राजन् मघवता अपि ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yac cāpy aśakyatāṃ teṣām āhatuḥ puruṣarṣabhau ||
tat tathā puruṣavyāghra tava tad bhadram astu te ||
kathaṃ hi pāṇḍavaḥ śrīmān savyasācī paraṃtapaḥ ||
śakyo vijetuṃ saṃgrāme rājan maghavatā api ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यत् च अपि अशक्यतां तेषाम् आहतुः पुरुषर्षभौyat ca api aśakyatāṃ teṣām āhatuḥ puruṣarṣabhauAnd as for the invincibility of the Pandavas proclaimed by the two bulls among men [Bhishma and Drona] --
तत् तथा पुरुषव्याघ्र तव तत् भद्रम् अस्तु तेtat tathā puruṣavyāghra tava tat bhadram astu teso it truly is, O tiger among men; may good come to you;
कथं हि पाण्डवः श्रीमान् सव्यसाची परंतपःkathaṃ hi pāṇḍavaḥ śrīmān savyasācī paraṃtapaḥfor how could the Pandava, glorious Savyasachin [Arjuna], scorcher of foes,
शक्यः विजेतुं संग्रामे राजन् मघवता अपिśakyaḥ vijetuṃ saṃgrāme rājan maghavatā apibe conquered in battle, O king, even by Maghavan [Indra] himself?
यच्yacoriginal form "yac", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चाप्य्cāpyoriginal form "cāpy", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तद्tadoriginal form "tad", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
शक्योśakyooriginal form "śakyo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"And as for the invincibility of the Pandavas proclaimed by these two bulls among men -- so it truly is, O tiger among men; may good come to you. For how could the glorious Pandava, Savyasachin, scorcher of foes, be conquered in battle even by Indra himself?"
Version
0726a9390fa4 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:54:01 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the invincibility of those protected by God is confirmed. It is telling that Vidura himself testifies: not even Indra could overcome Arjuna. Here is seen the truth that behind the righteous stands a power that even the gods cannot surpass: one protected from above cannot be defeated. Thus the text reveals the futility of war against the Pandavas; and the argument of invincibility reinforces the counsel of peace.