Mahabharata · 7.38.1–2
॥
Devanāgarī
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
द्वैधीभवति मे चित्तं ह्रिया तुष्ट्या च संजय ॥
मम पुत्रस्य यत् सैन्यं सौभद्रः समवारयत् ॥
विस्तरेणैव मे शंस सर्वं गावल्गणे पुनः ॥
विक्रीडितं कुमारस्य स्कन्दस्येवासुरैः सह ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
dvaidhībhavati me cittaṃ hriyā tuṣṭyā ca saṃjaya ||
mama putrasya yat sainyaṃ saubhadraḥ samavārayat ||
vistareṇaiva me śaṃsa sarvaṃ gāvalgaṇe punaḥ ||
vikrīḍitaṃ kumārasya skandasyevāsuraiḥ saha ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
द्वैधीभवतिdvaidhībhavatiis divided [wavers]; is divided
मेmemy [in me]; my
चित्तम्cittamheart [mind]; heart
ह्रियाhriyāwith shame; with shame
तुष्ट्याtuṣṭyāwith joy [satisfaction]; with joy
चcaand; and
संजयsaṃjayaO Sanjaya; O Sanjaya
मम पुत्रस्यmama putrasyaof my son; of my son
यत् सैन्यम्yat sainyam[that] army which; [that] army
सौभद्रःsaubhadraḥthe son of Subhadra [Abhimanyu]; the son of Subhadra
समवारयत्samavārayatchecked [stopped]; checked
विस्तरेणvistareṇain detail [in full detail]; in full detail
एवevaindeed; —
मेmeto me; to me
शंसśaṃsatell [relate]; tell
सर्वम्sarvamall; all
गावल्गणेgāvalgaṇeO son of Gavalgana [Sanjaya]; O son of Gavalgana
पुनःpunaḥagain [once more]; once more
विक्रीडितम्vikrīḍitam[martial] sport [play]; [martial] sport
कुमारस्यkumārasyaof the prince [youth]; of the prince
स्कन्दस्यskandasyaof Skanda; [as] of Skanda
इवivalike [as]; —
असुरैः सहasuraiḥ sahawith the asuras; [in battle] with the asuras
Translation
"My heart is divided between shame and joy, O Sanjaya, [at the news] that the son of Subhadra checked my son's army. Tell me again, O son of Gavalgana, in full detail, all of it — the martial sport of the prince, like [the deed] of Skanda in battle with the asuras."
Version
3d15c4c64baa · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:22:09 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Dhritarashtra's heart 'is divided between shame and joy': shame for his sons' army, unable to master a mere youth, and joy for the valor of the Pandavas' grandson. In this division glimmers a conscience not wholly extinguished: even the father of the enemy involuntarily rejoices at another's greatness. It is telling that joy in valor overcomes in him partiality toward his own. The verse teaches that true greatness awakens a response even in a hostile heart, giving rise to involuntary joy above enmity; that shame for wrong and admiration for right can coexist in one person, revealing the division of his soul; and that the ability to rejoice in another's valor, even to one's own detriment, is a sign of a conscience not wholly deadened — that spark which, even in the partial heart, recognizes and honors what is beautiful.