अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥
aparyāptaṃ tad asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam |paryāptaṃ tv idam eteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam ||
- अपर्याप्तम् · aparyāptam
- insufficient, inadequate (some read: unlimited)
- तत् · tat
- that
- अस्माकम् · asmākam
- our
- बलम् · balam
- strength, force
- भीष्माभिरक्षितम् · bhīṣmābhirakṣitam
- guarded by Bhishma
- पर्याप्तम् · paryāptam
- sufficient, adequate (some read: limited)
- तु · tu
- but
- इदम् · idam
- this
- एतेषाम् · eteṣām
- of these (the enemy)
- बलम् · balam
- strength, force
- भीमाभिरक्षितम् · bhīmābhirakṣitam
- guarded by Bhima
“That force of ours, guarded by Bhishma, is insufficient; while this force of theirs, guarded by Bhima, is sufficient.”
— Original plain-language translation
A famous crux: aparyāptam can mean 'insufficient' or 'unlimited', and translators divide. The anxious reading fits Duryodhana's mood — despite the larger army, he feels outmatched. Either way, enjoy the deliberate wordplay: guarded by Bhīṣma, guarded by Bhīma.
— Reader's notes (original)