aparyaaptam tadasmaakam balam bheeshmaabhirikshitam |
paryaaptam tvidameteshaam balam bheemaabhirikshitam || 10 ||
Whereas our army, defended by Bheeshma’s strength, is infinitely capable of victory, the Pandava army defended by Bheema’s strength, seems limited.
asmaakam tat: our army
aparyaaptam: infinitely capable (to win against the Pandavas)
balam bheeshma-abhirikshitam: defended by Bheeshma’s strength
tu: but
eteshaam: these Pandavas
idam: this
paryaptam: limited (to be victorious)
balam bheemaa-abhirikshitam: defended by Bheema’s strength
Duryodhana continued to boast about his army in this final comment to Drona. Note that Drona did not reply to any of Duryodhana’s statements at any point in the conversation. His silence indicated either anger, disappointment or knowing the inevitable that his army was doomed to failure.
If you measure Duryodhana’s comments, they tend to become increasingly arrogant and hyperbolic throughout the conversation. Anytime you have somebody making hyperbolic statements praising themselves, it usually indicates an underlying insecurity.
Footnote
1. In translating this verse I looked up several commentaries, and this is the first verse where I have encountered a difference in translation. Some commentators translate the Sanskrit word “aparyaptam” to mean “beyond sufficient” or “infinitely capable”. This is the meaning that I have used above. However, some commentators translate it as “less than sufficient” or “limited capability”. If that meaning is taken, that means Duryodhana’s fear has broken past the facade of arrogance and he has begun speaking what he really thinks.
