Mahabharata · 1.199.3–4
॥
Devanāgarī
यदा तु मन्यते वीरः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥
भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव यमौ च पुरुषर्षभौ ॥
रामकृष्णौ च धर्मज्ञौ तदा गच्छन्तु पाण्डवाः ॥
एतौ हि पुरुषव्याघ्राव् एषां प्रियहिते रतौ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yadā tu manyate vīraḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
bhīmasenārjunau caiva yamau ca puruṣarṣabhau ||
rāmakṛṣṇau ca dharmajñau tadā gacchantu pāṇḍavāḥ ||
etau hi puruṣavyāghrāv eṣāṃ priyahite ratau ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यदा तु मन्यते वीरः कुन्तीपुत्रः युधिष्ठिरःyadā tu manyate vīraḥ kuntīputraḥ yudhiṣṭhiraḥwhen the hero, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, thinks it fit,
भीमसेनार्जुनौ च एव यमौ च पुरुषर्षभौbhīmasenārjunau ca eva yamau ca puruṣarṣabhauand Bhimasena with Arjuna, and the two twins, bulls among men,
रामकृष्णौ च धर्मज्ञौ तदा गच्छन्तु पाण्डवाःrāmakṛṣṇau ca dharmajñau tadā gacchantu pāṇḍavāḥand Rama [Balarama] with Krishna, knowers of dharma — then let the Pandavas go;
एतौ हि पुरुषव्याघ्रौ एषां प्रियहिते रतौetau hi puruṣavyāghrau eṣāṃ priyahite rataufor these two tigers among men [Rama and Krishna] are devoted to their good and benefit";
कुन्तीपुत्रोkuntīputrooriginal form "kuntīputro", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चैवcaivaoriginal form "caiva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पुरुषव्याघ्राव्puruṣavyāghrāvoriginal form "puruṣavyāghrāv", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"When the hero, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena with Arjuna, and the two twins, and Rama with Krishna, knowers of dharma, think it fitting — then let the Pandavas go; for these two tigers among men are devoted to their good and benefit."
Version
1fdad48663af · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:54:01 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here Drupada entrusts the decision to Krishna and Balarama as guardians of what is good. It is telling that he calls Rama and Krishna "devoted to their good": the weightiest matter is entrusted to those who truly care for the Pandavas. Here it is shown that the wise rely on the judgment of one whose love is beyond doubt. Thus the text reveals Drupada's trust in Krishna; and behind the outcome of the matter stands the will of the Lord.