Mahabharata · 7.53.38–39
॥
Devanāgarī
यश् च गोप्ता महेष्वासस् तस्य पापस्य दुर्मतेः ॥
तम् एव प्रथमं द्रोणम् अभियास्यामि केशव ॥
तस्मिन् द्यूतम् इदं बद्धं मन्यते स्म सुयोधनः ॥
तस्मात् तस्यैव सेनाग्रं भित्त्वा यास्यामि सैन्धवम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yaś ca goptā maheṣvāsas tasya pāpasya durmateḥ ||
tam eva prathamaṃ droṇam abhiyāsyāmi keśava ||
tasmin dyūtam idaṃ baddhaṃ manyate sma suyodhanaḥ ||
tasmāt tasyaiva senāgraṃ bhittvā yāsyāmi saindhavam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यः च गोप्ता महेष्वासःyaḥ ca goptā maheṣvāsaḥand who is the protector, the great archer; and whoever is the guardian, the mighty bowman
तस्य पापस्य दुर्मतेःtasya pāpasya durmateḥof that sinner, evil-minded; of that evildoer, evil-minded
तम् एव प्रथमम् द्रोणम्tam eva prathamam droṇamhim indeed, Drona, first; precisely him, Drona, first
अभियास्यामि केशवabhiyāsyāmi keśavaI shall attack, O Keshava; I shall attack, O Keshava
तस्मिन् द्यूतम् इदम् बद्धम्tasmin dyūtam idam baddhamupon him this stake [wager] is fixed; upon him this wager rests
मन्यते स्म सुयोधनःmanyate sma suyodhanaḥso thinks Suyodhana; so Suyodhana believes
तस्मात् तस्य एव सेनाग्रम्tasmāt tasya eva senāgramtherefore precisely his vanguard [army]; therefore precisely his foremost host
भित्त्वा यास्यामि सैन्धवम्bhittvā yāsyāmi saindhavamhaving breached, I shall go to the Sindhu king; having breached it, I shall go against the Sindhu king
Translation
"And he who is the protector of that sinner, evil-minded — the great archer Drona: him precisely I shall attack first, O Keshava. On him, Suyodhana believes, this wager rests; therefore, having breached precisely his vanguard, I shall go against the man of Sindhu."
Version
ae4a954f50df · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Arjuna aims at the very root of the defense: "tam eva prathamaṃ droṇam abhiyāsyāmi" — to strike first at the guardian of the plan itself. He also sees through the enemy's calculation: "tasmin dyūtam idam baddham", "on him this game is staked" — Duryodhana relies upon his teacher. It is telling that a warrior's wisdom lies in striking not at the edge but at the support on which the whole structure rests. The verse teaches that to overcome falsehood one must discern what it stands upon and direct one's effort there: breaking the main support brings down the entire construction, however cunningly it may be arranged.