1.10

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥

aparyāptaṃ tad asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam
paryāptaṃ tv idam eteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam

The measuring verse. Read the grammar before you pick a side in the argument below.

The verse

That force of ours, protected by Bhīṣma (भीष्म), is aparyāpta (अपर्याप्त). But this force of theirs, protected by Bhīma (भीम), is paryāpta (पर्याप्त).

The lesson leaves those two words in Sanskrit in the sentence, on purpose. Here is the choice.

paryāpta (पर्याप्त) is "adequate, equal to the need," and also "measured, limited." The prefix a- (अ-) reverses it. So aparyāpta (अपर्याप्त) is either "inadequate" or "not limited, beyond measure."

If the words mean "inadequate" and "adequate," Duryodhana is afraid: our army is not enough, even with Bhīṣma (भीष्म), and theirs is enough, with only Bhīma (भीम). That reading fits a man who just spent six verses staring at the other side.

If the words mean "unlimited" and "limited," he is boasting: ours is beyond measure under Bhīṣma (भीष्म), theirs is a measured thing under Bhīma (भीम). Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) takes this reading. The commentary at holy-bhagvad-gita.org takes it too.

The grammar does not decide. a- (अ-) only says "the reverse." The reverse of a word that already leans two ways still leans two ways. Keep both until a later verse, or a commentary you trust, gives you a reason to set one down. Do not let an English sentence choose it for you before you have seen the pair.

नेपालीमा

भीष्मले रक्षा गरेको हाम्रो त्यो बल अपर्याप्त छ, तर भीमले रक्षा गरेको उनीहरूको यो बल पर्याप्त छ। यहाँ ती दुई शब्द वाक्यमा जानीजानी संस्कृतमै राखिएका छन्। पर्याप्त भनेको "आवश्यकता जति पुग्ने" पनि हो, र "नापिएको, सीमित" पनि हो। अगाडिको अ ले त्यसलाई उल्ट्याउँछ, त्यसैले अपर्याप्त भनेको "अपुग" पनि हुन सक्छ, र "नापभन्दा बाहिर, असीमित" पनि। "अपुग" र "पुग्ने" अर्थ लिए दुर्योधन डराउँछ: हाम्रो सेना भीष्मसँग पनि पुग्दैन, उनीहरूको भीमसँग मात्र पुग्छ। "असीमित" र "सीमित" अर्थ लिए उसले घमण्ड गर्छ: हाम्रो भीष्मले असीमित बनाएको छ, उनीहरूको भीमले सीमित। शङ्करले यही घमण्डको अर्थ लिन्छन्। व्याकरणले एउटा छान्दैन, किनकि अ ले "उल्टो" मात्र भन्छ, र दुई तिर झुकेको शब्दको उल्टो पनि दुई तिरै झुक्छ। त्यसैले पछिको कुनै श्लोक वा भरपर्दो टिप्पणीले कारण नदिएसम्म दुवै अर्थ राख्नुहोस्।

Where it sits

This is the first time in the book that a single prefix changes the moral weather of a speech. Duryodhana is either steadying himself or confessing. 1.11, the order to protect Bhīṣma (भीष्म), makes sense after either confession or boast. A commander who feels short-handed protects his real strength. A commander who is bragging does the same.

Split: अपर्याप्तम् + तत् + अस्माकम् + बलम् + भीष्म-अभिरक्षितम् + पर्याप्तम् + तु + इदम् + एतेषाम् + बलम् + भीम-अभिरक्षितम्

aparyāptam + tat + asmākam + balam + bhīṣma-abhirakṣitam + paryāptam + tu + idam + eteṣām + balam + bhīma-abhirakṣitam