Mahabharata 7.136.21 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 136, Shloka 21

Chapter 136: Pandava Counter-Encirclement and the Vāyavya-Astra Disruption

Devanagari script

ततस्तमेवाधिरथि: स्यन्दनं दुर्मुखे हते

Transliteration

tatastamevādhirathiḥ syandanaṃ durmukhe hate

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Dann, als Durmukha gefallen war, bestieg derselbe mächtige Wagenkämpfer den Streitwagen—und trieb die Schlacht weiter voran im düsteren Schwung des Krieges, in dem der Sturz eines Kriegers sogleich einen anderen zwingt, die Last des Kampfes zu übernehmen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पञ्चमी-अर्थे)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: अव्यय

• अधिरथिः: Adhirathi (a warrior/king named Adhirathi)
• अधिरथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिरथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्यन्दनम्: chariot
• स्यन्दनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुर्मुखे: when/at (the time of) Durmukha
• दुर्मुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मुख
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• हते: slain; killed
• हते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Durmukha
• syandana (chariot)
• adhirathi (great chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the relentless continuity of warfare: when one warrior falls, another immediately assumes the role and resources (the chariot), reflecting the harsh kṣatriya world where duty and momentum often override personal grief.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that after Durmukha is killed, the same great chariot-warrior takes possession of or mounts the chariot, indicating a swift tactical shift and continuation of the battle.