Under the BanyanOld stories, illustrated and annotated

Bhagavad Gita 1.10

Chapter 1, verse 10

Meaning

Duryodhana sets the two armies side by side: his own, protected by Bhīṣma, and theirs, protected by Bhīma. The key words can be read two ways, either “our strength is beyond measure, while theirs is limited” or “our strength is not enough, while theirs is sufficient”. Readers have argued for centuries over whether he is boasting or quietly admitting fear.

The Sanskrit

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥ १० ॥

aparyāptaṃ tad asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam
paryāptaṃ tv idam eteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam

Say it

uh-pur-yaap-tum tud us-maa-kum buh-lum bheesh-maa-bhi-ruk-shi-tum
pur-yaap-tum tvi-duh-may-tay-shaam buh-lum bhee-maa-bhi-ruk-shi-tum

Word by word

aparyāptam
unlimited, beyond measure; or: not enough, inadequate
tat asmākam balam
that strength of ours, our army
bhīṣma-abhirakṣitam
guarded by Bhīṣma
paryāptam
limited, measurable; or: sufficient, enough
tu idam eteṣām balam
but this strength of theirs
bhīma-abhirakṣitam
guarded by Bhīma
Read it in context: verses 1.9–12Bhīṣma answers with a lion's roarWith the story so far, commentary, and today's lesson: Cheering up is not the same as answering

Another translation and audio recitation: verse 1.10 on holy-bhagavad-gita.org.