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Shloka 8

द्रोणानीकाभिमुखगमनम्

Abhimanyu advances toward Droṇa’s host

महौघ: सलिलस्येव गिरिमासाद्य दुर्भिदम्‌ । द्रोणं ते नाभ्यवर्तन्त वेलामिव जलाशया:,जैसे दुर्भेद्य पर्वतके पास पहुँचकर जलका महान्‌ प्रवाह अवरुद्ध हो जाता है तथा जिस प्रकार सम्पूर्ण जलाशय (समुद्र) अपनी तटभूमिको नहीं लाँघ पाते, उसी प्रकार वे पाण्डव- सैनिक द्रोणाचार्यके अत्यन्त निकट न पहुँच सके

mahaughaḥ salilasy eva girim āsādya durbhidam | droṇaṁ te nābhyavartanta velām iva jalāśayāḥ ||

قال سنجيا: كما يُكبح السيل الجارف إذا بلغ جبلًا لا يُثلم، وكما لا تتجاوز البحار شواطئها، كذلك لم يستطع محاربو الباندافا أن يضغطوا حتى يقتربوا من دروناجاريا.

महौघःa great flood/stream
महौघः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहौघ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सलिलस्यof water
सलिलस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootसलिल
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
गिरिम्a mountain
गिरिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगिरि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आसाद्यhaving reached/approached
आसाद्य:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + सद्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
दुर्भिदम्hard to pierce/impregnable
दुर्भिदम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्भिद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
द्रोणम्Drona
द्रोणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तेthey (those)
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अभ्यवर्तन्तthey did not reach/approach
अभ्यवर्तन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि + वृत्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), Past, Third, Plural, Ātmanepada
वेलाम्the shore/limit
वेलाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवेला
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
जलाशयाःbodies of water (reservoirs/seas)
जलाशयाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजलाशय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

संजय (Sañjaya)
द्रोण (Droṇa/Droṇācārya)
पाण्डव-सैनिक (Pāṇḍava warriors/army)
गिरि (mountain)
महौघ (mighty flood/current)
वेला (shoreline/boundary)
जलाशय (sea/waters)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches, through natural metaphors, that even great power is constrained by firm boundaries—here, the Pāṇḍava force is checked by Droṇa’s disciplined defense, suggesting the ethical and strategic value of restraint, order, and mastery amid chaos.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍava warriors, despite their strength, were unable to get very close to Droṇācārya on the battlefield, as his formation and prowess held them back like an unbreakable mountain stopping a flood.