Shloka 22

उपायैः पूर्ववधकथनम् / Strategic Justifications for Prior Eliminations

Devanagari script

तमसा चावृते लोके न प्राज्ञायत किंचन

Transliteration

tamasā cāvṛte loke na prājñāyata kiṃcana

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Als die Welt von Dunkelheit verhüllt war, ließ sich überhaupt nichts klar erkennen—ein Bild dafür, wie im Aufruhr des Krieges Wahrnehmung und Urteil selbst verdunkelt werden.

Word by Word

• तमसा: by darkness
• तमसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• आवृते: when (it was) covered/veiled
• आवृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवृत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• प्राज्ञायत: was known/was perceived
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada (passive sense)

• किंचन: anything (at all)
• किंचन: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किंचन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how tamas (darkness, confusion) can eclipse prajñā (clear knowing). In ethical terms, it suggests that in violent upheaval and fear, discernment fails—so one must guard clarity of mind and judgment, especially when actions have grave consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the scene became shrouded in darkness, so that nothing could be made out. It conveys the battlefield’s sudden obscurity and the resulting disorientation of those present.