Shloka 29

Devanagari script

भीष्पद्रोणार्णवं तीर्त्वा संग्रामे भीरुदुस्तरे । विमज्जिष्यामि सलिले सगणो द्रौणिगोष्पदे,“कायरोंके लिये दुस्तर संग्राममें भीष्म और द्रोणाचार्यरूपी महासागरको पार करके मैं सगे-सम्बन्धियोंके साथ अश्वत्थामारूपी गायकी खुरीके जलमें डूब जाऊँगा

Transliteration

bhīṣma-droṇārṇavaṁ tīrtvā saṅgrāme bhīru-dustare | vimajjiṣyāmi salile sagaṇo drauṇi-goṣpade ||

Translation

قال سَنجايا: «بعد أن عبرتُ، في هذه المعركة العسيرة على الجبناء، ذلك المحيط العظيم الذي هو بهيشما ودرونا، فسأغرق بعد ذلك—مع أتباعي—في ماءٍ ليس إلا كأثر حافر بقرة، أي أشوَتّھاما.»

Word by Word

भीष्मद्रोणार्णवम्the ocean in the form of Bhīṣma and Droṇa

तीर्त्वाhaving crossed

संग्रामेin battle

भीरु-दुस्तरेhard to cross for cowards

विमज्जिष्यामिI shall sink / be submerged

सलिलेin the water

सगणःtogether with my group/retinue

द्रौणि-गोष्पदेin the cow-hoofprint (puddle) that is Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi)

saṅgrāma (the battle/war)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses sharp metaphor to expose overconfidence and moral blindness in war: one may survive seemingly insurmountable dangers (an ‘ocean’ of mighty warriors) yet be ruined by what is underestimated (a ‘hoofprint’ of water). It cautions against contempt for others and against triumphalism that ignores the ethical weight and unpredictability of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a warrior’s boastful resolve: after enduring the formidable phase of the war dominated by Bhīṣma and Droṇa, he claims he will then be undone—ironically and dismissively—by Aśvatthāmā, whom he likens to a mere hoofprint puddle compared to the ‘ocean’ of the earlier commanders.