The eleventh chapter of Ruchira Bhag 2 is titled समवायो हि दुर्जयः (Samavayo Hi Durjayah), which means "Indeed, united effort (unity) is invincible (hard to defeat)." The word samavayah means coming together, union, or combined effort, and durjayah means difficult to conquer (दुर् + जयः). The chapter is a famous fable from the Panchatantra that demonstrates the power of unity.
The story is about a flock of doves (कपोताः) that get trapped in a hunter's net. When one pigeon, the leader, thinks clearly, the whole flock works together and escapes. Later, a kind mouse cuts the net and frees them all. The lesson is simple and eternal: unity is strength. When people or animals come together and act as one, no obstacle can defeat them.
For Class 7 students, this chapter is important because: - It retells a thrilling adventure story in simple Sanskrit, - It teaches the value of presence of mind and teamwork, - It introduces many क्त्वा (having-done) forms and common verbs, - And it carries the powerful moral "samavayo hi durjayah," which is frequently asked in examinations.
कस्मिंश्चित् वने एकः व्याधः जालं प्रसारितवान्। एकदा कपोतयूथं तस्मिन् जाले बद्धम् अभवत्।
In a certain forest, a hunter (व्याधः) spread a net to catch birds. One day, a whole flock of doves (कपोतयूथम्) got trapped in that net. The doves became very afraid. They flapped their wings but could not free themselves. The hunter saw them and began to approach happily.
Word meanings: व्याधः (hunter), जालम् (net), प्रसारितवान् (spread), कपोतयूथम् (flock of doves), बद्धम् (trapped/bound), अभवत् (became), भीताः (frightened), पक्षाः (wings).
तदा कपोतराजः अवदत् - "मा भैष्ट! वयं सर्वे मिलित्वा जालेन सह उत्पतितुं यत्नं कुर्मः।"
Then the king pigeon (कपोतराजः) said, "Do not be afraid! Let us all make an effort to fly up together along with the net." Hearing this, all the doves became calm. With one united effort, the entire flock rose into the air, carrying the net with them. The hunter could not believe his eyes - the birds were flying away with his net!
Word meanings: कपोतराजः (king pigeon/leader), मा भैष्ट (do not fear), मिलित्वा (having united), सह (with), उत्पतितुम् (to fly up), यत्नम् (effort), कुर्मः (let us do), वायुवेगेन (with the speed of wind).
कपोतराजः सर्वान् आज्ञापितवान् यत् ते मूषकस्य बिलं प्रति गच्छेयुः।
The king pigeon commanded all the doves to fly to the burrow of his friend, the mouse (मूषकः). Flying for a long time, the tired flock reached the mouse's burrow. The king pigeon called out to his friend, "O friend mouse! Please cut this net and free us." The mouse, hearing his friend's voice, came out and, with his sharp teeth, began to cut the net.
Word meanings: मूषकः (mouse), बिलम् (burrow), प्रति (towards), आज्ञापितवान् (ordered), थकितम् (tired), दन्तैः (with teeth), छिनत्ति (cuts), मित्रम् (friend).
मूषकः जालं छिन्नवान्। ततः सर्वे कपोताः स्वतन्त्राः अभवन्।
The mouse cut the net. Then all the doves became free. They thanked their friend and flew away joyfully to their homes. The hunter, who had run after the birds, found only his empty, torn net. He stood amazed and ashamed.
Word meanings: छिन्नवान् (cut), स्वतन्त्राः (free), अभवन् (became), धन्यवादम् (thanks), प्रहृष्टाः (joyful), रिक्तम् (empty), विस्मितः (astonished).
एतस्मात् पाठात् वयं जानीमः यत् समवायः एव महान् बलम्। समवायो हि दुर्जयः - यदा जनाः मिलित्वा कार्यं कुर्वन्ति, तदा ते किमपि शत्रुं जेतुं शक्नुवन्ति।
From this lesson we learn that unity itself is great strength. समवायो हि दुर्जयः - when people work together in unity, they can defeat any enemy and overcome any difficulty. Alone, a single dove was helpless in the net; together, the whole flock flew away free. This is the power of unity.
Word meanings: पाठात् (from the lesson), समवायः (unity), बलम् (strength), मिलित्वा (unitedly), कार्यम् (work), जेतुम् (to conquer), शक्नुवन्ति (are able).
The story teaches that fear is conquered by unity and presence of mind. The leader's calm advice, the flock's cooperation, and the friend's timely help - all three together won the victory. In life, teamwork and unity can accomplish what no single person can do alone.
| Vibhakti | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| प्रथमा | कपोतः | कपोताः |
| द्वितीया | कपोतम् | कपोतान् |
| तृतीया | कपोतेन | कपोतैः |
| चतुर्थी | कपोताय | कपोतेभ्यः |
| पञ्चमी | कपोतात् | कपोतेभ्यः |
| षष्ठी | कपोतस्य | कपोतानाम् |
| सप्तमी | कपोते | कपोतेषु |
| Form | Root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| मिलित्वा | मिल् | having united |
| श्रुत्वा | श्रु | having heard |
| दृष्ट्वा | दृश् | having seen |
| बद्ध्वा | बन्ध् | having bound |
| मत्वा | मन् | having thought |
| Verb | Meaning | Form used |
|---|---|---|
| प्रसारयति | spreads | प्रसारितवान् (spread) |
| उत्पतति | flies up | उत्पतितुम् (to fly up) |
| छिनत्ति | cuts | छिन्नवान् (cut) |
| भवति | becomes | अभवत् (became) |
| गच्छति | goes | गच्छेयुः (they should go) |
हि means "indeed, certainly." So समवायो हि दुर्जयः = "unity indeed is invincible." The word हि strengthens the statement and is a common अव्यय (indeclinable).
मा भैष्ट = "do not fear!" This is a prohibition (निषेधार्थक वाक्य) using मा with the verb. It is used when calming someone who is afraid.
| Sanskrit | English |
|---|---|
| समवायः | unity, combined effort |
| दुर्जयः | invincible (hard to conquer) |
| व्याधः | hunter |
| जालम् | net |
| कपोताः | doves/pigeons |
| कपोतयूथम् | flock of doves |
| बद्धम् | trapped/bound |
| भीताः | frightened |
| कपोतराजः | king pigeon (leader) |
| उत्पतति | flies up |
| यत्नम् | effort |
| मूषकः | mouse |
| बिलम् | burrow |
| दन्ताः | teeth |
| छिनत्ति | cuts |
| स्वतन्त्रः | free |
| धन्यवादः | thanks |
| प्रहृष्टाः | joyful |
| रिक्तम् | empty |
| विस्मितः | astonished |
| बलम् | strength |
| जेतुम् | to conquer |
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| व्याधः (Hunter) | Spread the net to catch birds |
| कपोतयूथम् (Flock of doves) | Trapped in the net |
| कपोतराजः (King pigeon) | Leader who planned the escape |
| मूषकः (Mouse) | Friend who cut the net |
| Step | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter spreads a net |
| 2 | Flock of doves is trapped |
| 3 | King pigeon calms them |
| 4 | Doves fly up together with the net |
| 5 | They reach the mouse's burrow |
| 6 | Mouse cuts the net; all are free |
| Factor | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Leader's wisdom | Calm planning |
| Flock's cooperation | United flight |
| Friend's help | Cutting the net |
समवायो हि दुर्जयः is a thrilling Panchatantra tale that proves the oldest truth of social life - unity is strength. A single dove caught in the net could do nothing, but the whole flock, acting together under a wise leader, escaped by carrying the very net away. And when a friend's help was needed, the mouse came forward and cut the net. The story shows that wisdom, cooperation, and friendship together make a community invincible. For students, this chapter is a beautiful mix of adventure, moral teaching, and grammar - from क्त्वा forms to the declension of कपोत. As you go through life, remember: together we are strong, divided we fall. समवायो हि दुर्जयः - united effort can never be defeated.