Mahabharata · 7.33.6–7
॥
Devanāgarī
गुरुवात्सल्यम् अत्यन्तं नैभृत्यं विनयो दमः ॥
नकुले ऽप्रातिरूप्यं च शौर्यं च नियतानि षट् ॥
श्रुतगाम्भीर्यमाधुर्यसत्त्ववीर्यपराक्रमैः ॥
सदृशो देवयोर् वीरः सहदेवः किलाश्विनोः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
guruvātsalyam atyantaṃ naibhṛtyaṃ vinayo damaḥ ||
nakule 'prātirūpyaṃ ca śauryaṃ ca niyatāni ṣaṭ ||
śrutagāmbhīryamādhuryasattvavīryaparākramaiḥ ||
sadṛśo devayor vīraḥ sahadevaḥ kilāśvinoḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
गुरुवात्सल्यम्guruvātsalyamlove for elders [reverence for teachers]; love for elders
अत्यन्तम्atyantamboundless [extreme]; boundless
नैभृत्यम्naibhṛtyammodesty [restraint]; modesty
विनयःvinayaḥgood breeding [refinement]; good breeding
दमःdamaḥself-control [restraint]; self-control
नकुलेnakule[in] Nakula; [in] Nakula
अप्रातिरूप्यम्aprātirūpyamincomparable [beauty]; incomparable [beauty]
चcaand; --
शौर्यम्śauryamvalor [courage]; valor
चcaand; --
नियतानिniyatāni[firmly] established [unchanging]; unchangingly [established]
षट्ṣaṭsix; six
श्रुतगाम्भीर्यमाधुर्यसत्त्ववीर्यपराक्रमैःśrutagāmbhīryamādhuryasattvavīryaparākramaiḥby learning, depth, gentleness, courage, valor, and boldness; by learning, depth, gentleness, courage, valor, and boldness
सदृशःsadṛśaḥalike [equal]; equal
देवयोःdevayoḥto the two gods; to the two gods
वीरःvīraḥhero [warrior]; warrior
सहदेवःsahadevaḥSahadeva; Sahadeva
किलkilathey say [as is known]; they say
अश्विनोःaśvinoḥ[to] the two Ashvins; [to] the two Ashvins
Translation
Boundless love for elders, modesty, good breeding, self-control, incomparable [beauty] and valor -- these six [virtues] are unchangingly established in Nakula. By learning, depth, gentleness, courage, valor, and boldness, the warrior Sahadeva, they say, is equal to the two gods -- the Ashvins.
Version
117d9ffd43bd · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:22:09 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Praise of the younger twins is not for valor alone, but first of all for "love for elders, modesty, good breeding, self-control": virtues of the heart are set on a level with martial courage. And Sahadeva is likened to the Ashvins, his heavenly fathers -- the son proves worthy of the parent. It is significant that in this list of a warrior's virtues, gentleness and reverence come first, not strength. The verse teaches that the perfection of a man lies in joining valor with virtues of the heart: courage alone, without modesty and self-control, is incomplete; that love for elders and good breeding adorn a warrior no less than courage; and that the tradition, in praising the twins first of all for humility and gentleness, affirms that true greatness lies not in fearsomeness alone, but in the harmony of strength and moral beauty.