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Mahabharata · 7.52.22–23
॥
Джаядратха
Devanāgarī
निमित्ते दूरपातित्वे लघुत्वे दृढवेधने ॥
मम ब्रवीतु भगवान् विशेषं फल्गुनस्य च ॥
विद्याविशेषम् इच्छामि ज्ञातुम् आचार्य तत्त्वतः ॥
ममार्जुनस्य च विभो यथातत्त्वं प्रचक्ष्व मे ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nimitte dūrapātitve laghutve dṛḍhavedhane ||
mama bravītu bhagavān viśeṣaṃ phalgunasya ca ||
vidyāviśeṣam icchāmi jñātum ācārya tattvataḥ ||
mamārjunasya ca vibho yathātattvaṃ pracakṣva me ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
निमित्तेnimittein aim [accuracy toward the target]; in marksmanship
दूरपातित्वेdūrapātitvein the range of the shot [distance of arrows]; in the range of the shot
लघुत्वेlaghutvein quickness [lightness of hand]; in swiftness
दृढवेधनेdṛḍhavedhanein the firmness of the strike [piercing power]; in piercing power
मम ब्रवीतु भगवान्mama bravītu bhagavānlet the venerable one tell me; let the revered master tell me
विशेषम् फल्गुनस्य चviśeṣam phalgunasya cathe difference [between me] and Phalguna; the difference between me and Phalguna
विद्याविशेषम् इच्छामिvidyāviśeṣam icchāmiI wish to know the superiority in skill [martial science]; I wish to know the difference in skill
ज्ञातुम् आचार्य तत्त्वतःjñātum ācārya tattvataḥtruly, O teacher; truly, O teacher
मम अर्जुनस्य चmama arjunasya ca[between] me and Arjuna; between me and Arjuna
विभोvibhoO mighty one [lord]; O lord
यथातत्त्वम् प्रचक्ष्व मेyathātattvam pracakṣva meas it truly is, tell me; as it truly is, tell me
Translation
"In marksmanship, in the range of the shot, in swiftness, in piercing power — let the revered master tell me the difference between me and Phalguna. I wish to know truly, O teacher, the difference in skill between me and Arjuna, O lord; tell me as it truly is."
Version
314fcda0a8bd · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Fear makes Jayadratha unexpectedly sober: he wants to know the truth about himself — "yathātattvaṃ pracakṣva me", "tell me as it truly is" — measuring himself against exact standards of martial skill: aim, range, swiftness, piercing power. It is telling that in the face of death he seeks not flattery but a true assessment. This is an honest question, and it deserves the honest answer Drona is about to give. The verse teaches that sober self-knowledge is possible even in cowardice: one who, facing death, asks "what am I truly" already stands above one who indulges in self-deception.