Verse 1.10
Speaker: Sanjaya
Sanskrit
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् | पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ||१०||
Transliteration (IAST)
aparyāptaṁ tadasmākaṁ balaṁ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam | paryāptaṁ tvidameteṣāṁ balaṁ bhīmābhirakṣitam ||10||
Word-by-Word Meanings
अपर्याप्तम्-unlimited/insufficient
बलम्-strength/army
भीष्माभिरक्षितम्-protected by Bhishma
पर्याप्तम्-limited/sufficient
भीमाभिरक्षितम्-protected by Bhima
Translation
Our army, protected by Bhishma, is unlimited in strength, while their army, protected by Bhima, is limited.
Commentary
This verse is famously ambiguous. 'Aparyāptam' can mean either 'unlimited' (boasting) or 'insufficient' (anxious). Most commentators read Duryodhana as trying to reassure himself, but his underlying anxiety seeps through the bravado.
Themes
duty