Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Verse 10

Bhagavad Gita 1.10

Fear can declare defeat before the battle starts.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
वह हमारी सेना पाण्डवों पर विजय करने में अपर्याप्त है, असमर्थ है क्योंकि उसके संरक्षक उभयपक्षपाती भीष्म हैं । परन्तु इन पाण्डवों की सेना हमारे पर विजय करने में पर्याप्त है, समर्थ है क्योंकि इसके संरक्षक निजसेनापक्षपाती भीमसेन हैं ॥
English
Our force, guarded by Bhishma, is insufficient; their force, guarded by Bhima, is sufficient.

What this verse means

Duryodhana judges his own army as weaker and the Pandavas' army as stronger, based on who protects each side.

Context & commentary

On Kurukshetra, before the first arrow is fired, Duryodhana surveys both armies and speaks to Drona. He claims the Kaurava force is not enough and that the Pandava force is stronger, setting the tone for the coming war.

Why this verse still matters

You walk into a meeting already expecting defeat, and every face seems to confirm it. Fear can make one side look larger before a single word is spoken.

The takeaway

Panic makes the mind measure strength badly and speak from fear.

Word-by-word translation

अपर्याप्तम् (insufficient) / तत् (that) / अस्माकम् (of us) / बलम् (force) / भीष्म-अभिरक्षितम् (protected by Bhishma) / पर्याप्तम् (sufficient) / तु (but) / इदम् (this) / एतेषाम् (of these) / बलम् (force) / भीम-अभिरक्षितम् (protected by Bhima)

Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), battlefield (20 verses), duryodhana (12 verses)

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