Mahābhārata · 7.69.21–22
॥
Devanāgarī
किं नु पश्यसि बाणौघान् क्रोशमात्रे किरीटिनः ॥
पश्चाद् रथस्य पतितान् क्षिप्ताञ् शीघ्रं हि गच्छतः ॥
न चाहं शीघ्रयाने ऽद्य समर्थो वयसान्वितः ॥
सेनामुखे च पार्थानाम् एतद् बलम् उपस्थितम् ॥
Transliteración (IAST)
kiṃ nu paśyasi bāṇaughān krośamātre kirīṭinaḥ ||
paścād rathasya patitān kṣiptāñ śīghraṃ hi gacchataḥ ||
na cāhaṃ śīghrayāne 'dya samartho vayasānvitaḥ ||
senāmukhe ca pārthānām etad balam upasthitam ||
Palabra por palabra
SánscritoIASTSignificado
किम् नु पश्यसि बाणौघान्kim nu paśyasi bāṇaughāndo you not see the torrents of arrows; do you not see the torrents of arrows
क्रोशमात्रे किरीटिनःkrośamātre kirīṭinaḥfor a whole krosha before the Diademed one; for a full krosha ahead of the Diademed one
पश्चात् रथस्य पतितान्paścāt rathasya patitānfallen behind his chariot; fallen behind his chariot
क्षिप्तान् शीघ्रम् हि गच्छतःkṣiptān śīghram hi gacchataḥloosed by him as he swiftly speeds; loosed by him, swiftly speeding
न च अहम् शीघ्रयाने अद्यna ca aham śīghrayāne adyaand I am not capable of swift driving now; and I am not able for swift driving now
समर्थः वयसा अन्वितःsamarthaḥ vayasā anvitaḥbeing burdened with age; burdened as I am with age
सेनामुखे च पार्थानाम्senāmukhe ca pārthānāmand at the front of the Parthas' army; and at the head of the Parthas' host
एतत् बलम् उपस्थितम्etat balam upasthitamthis force stands ready; this force stands in wait
Traducción
"Do you not see the torrents of arrows for a full krosha ahead of the Diademed one, fallen behind his chariot, loosed by him as he swiftly speeds? And I am not able for swift driving now, burdened as I am with age; and at the head of the Parthas' army this force stands ready."
Versión
36dd7b269930 · publicado 19 jul 2026, 15:45:02 UTC
Disponible enRUENPasa de verso en verso con
Drona honestly names his own frailty too: "na ca aham śīghrayāne adya samarthaḥ vayasā anvitaḥ", "I am not able for swift driving now, by reason of age". The great warrior does not hide the limit of his years. It is telling in its humility: to admit weakness is not frailty but truthfulness. The verse teaches that even the greatest is subject to age, and wisdom lies in acknowledging it: not every task suits an aging body; and an honest "I am no longer what I was" is worthier than a feigned youthfulness, for truth about one's own limits is the foundation of a sound decision.