Mahabharata 7.13.22 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 22

Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)

Devanagari script

आस्तां ते स्तिमिते सेने रक्ष्यमाणे परस्परम्‌ । सम्प्रसुप्ते यथा नक्तं वनराज्यौ सुपुष्पिते

Transliteration

āstāṁ te stimitē sēnē rakṣyamāṇē parasparam | samprasuptē yathā naktaṁ vanarājyau supuṣpitē, āptair āśu parijñātaṁ bhāradvāja-cikīrṣitam ||

Translation

قال سنجيا: أيها الملك، فلتثبت تلك الجيوش—ساكنةً متقابلة—يحرس بعضُها بعضًا. بدت كأنها حافتان من غابةٍ غزيرة الأزهار تُرى ليلًا كأنها نائمة. وفي الأثناء، وبواسطة مُخبِرين موثوقين، فُهِمَت سريعًا وبجلاء نيةُ بهاردفاجا (درونا)—ما الذي كان يريد إنجازه.

Word by Word

• आस्ताम्: let (them) remain / be it
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: Lot (आज्ञार्थ), 3, Dual, Parasmaipada

• ते: of you / your
• ते: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• स्तिमिते: in the two motionless (ones)
• स्तिमिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तिमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Dual

• सेने: in the two armies
• सेने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Dual

• रक्ष्यमाणे: being protected
• रक्ष्यमाणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + यमाण (शानच्)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Dual, Passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• परस्परम्: mutually / by each other
• परस्परम्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)

• सम्प्रसुप्ते: in the two (that are) fully asleep/closed
• सम्प्रसुप्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + प्र + सुप्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Dual

• यथा: as / just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)

• नक्तम्: at night
• नक्तम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्त (प्रातिपदिक)

• वनराज्यौ: two forest-rows / forest-ranges
• वनराज्यौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनराजि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Dual

• सुपुष्पिते: well-flowered
• सुपुष्पिते: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + पुष्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Dual

• आप्तैः: by trusted (agents/people)
• आप्तैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)

• परिज्ञातम्: fully known / ascertained
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + ज्ञा (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Passive sense (past participle)

• भारद्वाज: of Bharadvāja (i.e., Droṇa)
• भारद्वाज: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चिकीर्षितम्: the intended act / what (he) wished to do
• चिकीर्षितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थ) → चिकीर्ष् + इत (क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (King addressed)
• Droṇa (Bhāradvāja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid war, discernment and vigilance matter: intentions are uncovered through trustworthy means, and calm readiness—mutual guarding without rash movement—can be a strategic and ethical necessity when a grave threat is perceived.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a tense pause: the two armies stand facing each other, still and watchful. At the same time, Droṇa’s intended plan (Bhāradvāja’s purpose) becomes quickly known through reliable informants, setting the stage for the next tactical moves.