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Shloka 34

Adhyāya 92: Irāvanta-śoka, punaḥ-pravṛttiḥ saṅgrāmasya

Arjuna’s grief and the battle’s renewed intensity

निज्द्रिश्न श्वसद्धिश्व कूजद्धिश्व गतासुभि: । हयैर्बभौ नरश्रेष्ठ नानारूपधरैर्धरा

niśvasadbhir kūjadbhir gatāsubhiś ca hayair babhau naraśreṣṭha nānārūpadharair dharā | rājan |

قال سنجيا: يا أيها الملك، بدت الأرض مغطّاة بالخيل الساقطة—منها من كان لا يزال يجرّ أنفاسًا طويلة متعبة، ومنها من كان يطلق صرخاتٍ خافتة غير بيّنة، وكثيرٌ منها قد فارقته الحياة. وهكذا، وقد تناثرت عليها خيلٌ شتّى الأشكال، غدا تراب الميدان مشهدًا كئيبًا مدهشًا، يكشف فداحة ثمن الحرب وهشاشة الحياة وسط صدام واجب الكشاتريا.

निःश्वसत्breathing out, exhaling
निःश्वसत्:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootनिः-श्वस् (धातु) → निःश्वसत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
श्वसत्breathing, panting
श्वसत्:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootश्वस् (धातु) → श्वसत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
कूजत्making indistinct sounds, moaning
कूजत्:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootकूज् (धातु) → कूजत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
गतासुभिःwith life-breath gone; dead
गतासुभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootगत (√गम्) + असु (प्राण)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
हयैःby/with horses
हयैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
बभौshone, appeared splendid
बभौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√भा (दीप्तौ) लिट्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
नरश्रेष्ठO best of men
नरश्रेष्ठ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनर + श्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
नानारूपधरैःassuming various forms/appearances
नानारूपधरैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootनाना + रूप + धर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
धराःthe earth
धराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधरा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
राजन्O king
राजन्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied by address rājan)
H
horses (haya)
E
earth/ground (dharā)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the stark reality of war: life is fragile, suffering is immediate, and even noble duty (kṣatriya-dharma) unfolds amid grievous loss. It invites ethical reflection on the human and animal cost that accompanies righteous or necessary conflict.

Sañjaya describes the battlefield to the king: the ground is covered with fallen horses—some still breathing or faintly crying, many already dead—creating a grim scene of devastation during the Kurukṣetra war.