Mahabharata · 2.18.17–18
॥
Devanāgarī
यतो हि निम्नं भवति नयन्तीह ततो जलम् ॥
यतश् छिद्रं ततश् चापि नयन्ते धीधना बलम् ॥
तस्मान् नयविधानज्ञं पुरुषं लोकविश्रुतम् ॥
वयम् आश्रित्य गोविन्दं यतामः कार्यसिद्धये ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yato hi nimnaṃ bhavati nayantīha tato jalam ||
yataś chidraṃ tataś cāpi nayante dhīdhanā balam ||
tasmān nayavidhānajñaṃ puruṣaṃ lokaviśrutam ||
vayam āśritya govindaṃ yatāmaḥ kāryasiddhaye ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यतः हि निम्नम् भवतिyataḥ hi nimnam bhavatiwherever there is a hollow,
नयन्ति इह ततः जलम्nayanti iha tataḥ jalamthere they lead the water;
यतः छिद्रम् ततः च अपिyataḥ chidram tataḥ ca apiwherever there is a breach, there too
नयन्ते धी-धनाः बलम्nayante dhī-dhanāḥ balamthose rich in wisdom lead strength;
तस्मात् नय-विधान-ज्ञम्tasmāt naya-vidhāna-jñamtherefore the one who knows the ordinances of policy,
पुरुषम् लोक-विश्रुतम्puruṣam loka-viśrutamthe man renowned in the world,
वयम् आश्रित्य गोविन्दम्vayam āśritya govindamwe, relying on Govinda,
यतामः कार्य-सिद्धयेyatāmaḥ kārya-siddhayestrive for the accomplishment of the deed;
यतोyatooriginal form "yato", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
निम्नंnimnaṃoriginal form "nimnaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
नयन्तीहnayantīhaoriginal form "nayantīha", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ततोtatooriginal form "tato", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
यतश्yataśoriginal form "yataś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
छिद्रंchidraṃoriginal form "chidraṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ततश्tataśoriginal form "tataś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चापिcāpioriginal form "cāpi", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
धीधनाdhīdhanāoriginal form "dhīdhanā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तस्मान्tasmānoriginal form "tasmān", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
नयविधानज्ञंnayavidhānajñaṃoriginal form "nayavidhānajñaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पुरुषंpuruṣaṃoriginal form "puruṣaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
लोकविश्रुतम्lokaviśrutamoriginal form "lokaviśrutam", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
गोविन्दंgovindaṃoriginal form "govindaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कार्यसिद्धयेkāryasiddhayeoriginal form "kāryasiddhaye", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"As water is led to where there is a hollow, so those rich in wisdom [strategists] direct strength to where [the enemy] has a breach. Therefore, relying on Govinda -- a man renowned in the world, a knower of the ordinances of policy -- we strive for the accomplishment of the deed."
Version
35df91cd6f06 · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:13:23 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here wisdom directs strength toward the vulnerable point, as water flows into a hollow. It is significant that Govinda is chosen as the support: the wisest entrusts the deed not to his own calculation but to the guidance of the Lord. Thus scripture shows Krishna as the highest focal point of every wise undertaking; and further on -- the conclusion about the arrangement.