Now let me name ours

asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottamanāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te

Now hear, best of the twice-born, of the finest on our side, the leaders of my army. I name them for you.

What it means

Having listed the enemy, Duryodhana turns to his own side. He addresses Drona with a title of honour, best of the twice-born, a name for a learned teacher. Then he offers to name his commanders, for Drona's information. Drona hardly needs it. Duryodhana is reassuring himself.

The story

Drona knows these men better than anyone. He trained many of them. Yet Duryodhana lists them anyway, like a speaker repeating notes backstage. And far away, Sanjaya reports every word to the blind king, who waits to hear that his son is safe.

In your life

Picture a man in a parking lot before an interview, saying it out loud. Ten years of experience, two languages, a strong portfolio. That's natural. Try adding one more line. And I can be honest about what I don't know.