Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 21

Adhyāya 14: Śalya’s Missile-Pressure and the Pāṇḍava Convergence (शल्यस्य शरवर्षम्)

Devanagari script

द्रौणिस्तु समरे दृष्टवा पाण्डवस्थ पराक्रमम्‌

Transliteration

drauṇis tu samare dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavastha parākramam

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing, in the thick of battle, the valor displayed by the Pāṇḍavas, Drauni (Aśvatthāmā) took note of their formidable prowess.

Word by Word

• द्रौणिः: Drona's son (Ashvatthama)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पराक्रमम्: valor/prowess
• पराक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Drauni (Aśvatthāmā)
• Pāṇḍavas
• battlefield (samara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how witnessing another’s strength in war can intensify strategic and emotional responses; ethically, it points to the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya valor and the danger of letting admiration, fear, or anger harden into vengeful resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā (Drauni), present in the battle, observes the Pāṇḍavas’ prowess. This observation functions as a narrative pivot toward the reactions and decisions of the Kaurava side in the unfolding combat.