Mahabharata 1.175.44 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 44

पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्

The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara

Devanagari script

क्रोशमानं भयोद्धिग्नं त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छत । इस प्रकार नन्दिनी गायने उनकी सारी सेनाको दूर भगा दिया। विश्वामित्रकी वह सेना तीन योजनतक खदेड़ी गयी। वह सेना भयसे व्याकुल होकर चीखती- चिल्लाती रही; किंतु कोई भी संरक्षक उसे नहीं मिला || ४३ ह ।।

Transliteration

krośamānaṁ bhayoddhignaṁ trātāraṁ nādhyagacchata |

Translation

Schreiend vor Panik und vom Schrecken geschüttelt, fanden sie keinen Beschützer.

Word by Word

• क्रोशमानम्: crying, shouting
• क्रोशमानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुश् (धातु) → क्रोशमान (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भय-उद्विग्नम्: agitated by fear
• भय-उद्विग्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्विग्न (कृदन्त/विशेषण) ; भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रातारम्: a protector, rescuer
• त्रातारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निपात)

• अध्यगच्छत: found, obtained, came upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

गन्धर्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Gandharva (narrator/speaker)
• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha
• Nandinī (cow)
• Viśvāmitra's army

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly strength and numbers can collapse instantly when driven by fear; true refuge is not guaranteed by power or status. The episode contrasts kṣātra-bala (martial force) with brahma-tejas (spiritual potency), warning against arrogance and highlighting the superior efficacy of disciplined spiritual power.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Nandinī and Vasiṣṭha’s power rout Viśvāmitra’s forces, the fleeing soldiers cry out in terror but find no one to protect them. The verse captures the moment of panic and abandonment during the retreat, setting up Viśvāmitra’s shame and his recognition of brahma-tejas.