अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥
asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tān nibodha dvijottama |nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tān bravīmi te ||
- अस्माकम् · asmākam
- our, of us
- तु · tu
- but, now
- विशिष्टाः · viśiṣṭāḥ
- the distinguished, excellent ones
- ये · ye
- who
- तान् · tān
- them
- निबोध · nibodha
- know, understand, take note
- द्विजोत्तम · dvijottama
- O best of the twice-born (addressing Drona the brahmin)
- नायकाः · nāyakāḥ
- leaders, captains
- मम · mama
- my
- सैन्यस्य · sainyasya
- of the army
- संज्ञार्थम् · saṃjñārtham
- for remembrance, to refresh memory
- ब्रवीमि · bravīmi
- I speak, I name
- ते · te
- to you
“But now, O best of brahmins, take note of our own captains. I name the leaders of my army to refresh your memory.”
— Original plain-language translation
Duryodhana turns to his own side's roster — addressing Drona pointedly as 'best of brahmins' rather than commander, a subtle reminder of the teacher's divided loyalties.
— Reader's notes (original)