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Shloka 11

Droṇavadha-saṃniveśaḥ — The Convergence Toward Droṇa’s Fall

Book 7, Chapter 164

रथमण्डलमार्गेषु चरन्तावरिमर्दनौ । घोररूपौ हि तावास्तां वृष्टिमन्ताविवाम्बुदौ,रथ मण्डलके मार्गोंपर विचरते हुए वे दोनों शत्रुमर्दन वीर वर्षा करनेवाले दो बादलोंके समान भंयकर रूप धारण किये हुए थे

rathamaṇḍalamārgeṣu carantāv arimardanau | ghorarūpau hi tāv āstāṃ vṛṣṭimantāv ivāmbudau ||

قال سنجيا: وهما يتحركان على المسالك الدائرية التي خطّتها عجلات مركبتيهما، بدا المحاربان القاهران للأعداء في هيئة مروِّعة—كغيمتين عاصفتين مثقلتين بالمطر، تحملان ثِقَل القدرة على صبّ الدمار. وتُبرز الصورة أن البأس الحربي إذا أُطلق في الحرب صار قوةً طاغية تُلقي الرعب، وتحوّل ميدان الدارما إلى امتحانٍ للضبط والواجب.

रथ-मण्डल-मार्गेषुon the paths of the chariot-circles/formations
रथ-मण्डल-मार्गेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ + मण्डल + मार्ग
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
चरन्तौmoving/wandering
चरन्तौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
अरि-मर्दनौtwo enemy-crushers
अरि-मर्दनौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअरि + मर्दन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
घोर-रूपौof terrible form
घोर-रूपौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर + रूप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
आस्ताम्were/stood
आस्ताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआस्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada
वृष्टि-मन्तौrain-bearing
वृष्टि-मन्तौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृष्टि + मन्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अम्बुदौtwo clouds
अम्बुदौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअम्बुद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
C
chariot (ratha)
C
clouds (ambuda)

Educational Q&A

The verse uses a storm-cloud simile to show how concentrated martial power can become an overwhelming, fear-inducing force. Ethically, it hints that war magnifies human capacities—courage and skill, but also terror and destruction—thereby testing whether duty (dharma) is carried out with discipline rather than mere ferocity.

Sañjaya describes two formidable warriors maneuvering their chariots in circular tracks on the battlefield. Their movement and appearance are portrayed as terrifying, comparable to two rain-heavy clouds poised to unleash a downpour—suggesting imminent, sweeping violence in the combat.