Mahabharata · 7.11.3–4
॥
Devanāgarī
यत् कौरवाणाम् ऋषभाद् आपगेयाद् अनन्तरम् ॥
सेनापत्येन मां राजन्न् अद्य सत्कृतवान् असि ॥
सदृशं कर्मणस् तस्य फलं प्राप्नुहि पार्थिव ॥
करोमि कामं कं ते ऽद्य प्रवृणीष्व यम् इच्छसि ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yat kauravāṇām ṛṣabhād āpageyād anantaram ||
senāpatyena māṃ rājann adya satkṛtavān asi ||
sadṛśaṃ karmaṇas tasya phalaṃ prāpnuhi pārthiva ||
karomi kāmaṃ kaṃ te 'dya pravṛṇīṣva yam icchasi ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यत्yat[in the fact] that; since
कौरवाणाम्kauravāṇāmof the Kauravas; [among] the Kauravas
ऋषभात्ṛṣabhātafter the bull [chief]; [right] after the chief
आपगेयात्āpageyātthe son of the river [Ganga, Bhishma]; [after] the son of the River
अनन्तरम्anantaramat once [immediately]; straightaway
सेनापत्येनsenāpatyenawith the rank of commander; [to be] general
माम्māmme; [precisely] me
राजन्rājanO king; O sovereign
अद्यadyanow [today]; at present
सत्कृतवान्satkṛtavānhonored [exalted]; you have raised up
असिasiyou are; [you]
सदृशम्sadṛśamfitting [corresponding]; worthy
कर्मणःkarmaṇaḥof that deed [that honor]; [of] this deed
तस्यtasyaof that; [of that very]
फलम्phalamfruit [reward]; recompense
प्राप्नुहिprāpnuhiobtain [receive]; accept
पार्थिवpārthivaO king; O sovereign
करोमिkaromiI shall fulfill [do]; I shall accomplish
कामम्kāmamdesire; [whatever] wish
कम्kamwhat?; [what exactly]
तेteyours; for you
अद्यadyanow; today
प्रवृणीष्वpravṛṇīṣvachoose [name]; ask
यम्yamwhich; [that] which
इच्छसिicchasiyou desire; you want
Translation
[Drona:] Since you, O king, have today honored me with the rank of commander right after the chief of the Kauravas, the son of the River [Bhishma], obtain then the fitting fruit of that honor, O sovereign. What wish of yours shall I fulfill today? Ask for whatever you desire.
Version
fea273cfaca5 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:00:03 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Drona offers a boon -- a custom of honor by which respect is repaid; but this very generosity of the teacher will soon be caught in the net of Duryodhana's selfish design. Thus a noble gesture, turned toward one without goodness, becomes the instrument of his scheme. It is telling that Drona offers "any wish" before he knows what it is -- a generosity that does not discriminate how it will be used. The verse teaches that generosity not tempered by discernment can serve untruth; that a promise to fulfill "any desire" without reflection is dangerous, for the one asking may prove unworthy; and that the giver's honor does not sanctify the petitioner's greed -- the gift is pure, yet the hand that receives it may be impure.