Shloka 4

अभिमन्योरावरणम्

Encirclement and counter-strikes of Abhimanyu

Devanagari script

संजय उवाच संशुष्कास्याश्षलन्नेत्रा: प्रस्विन्ञा लोमहर्षणा: । पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये,संजयने कहा--महाराज! आपके सभी सैनिकोंके मुँह सूख गये थे, आँखें भयसे चंचल हो रही थीं, सारे अंग पसीने-पसीने हो रहे थे और रोंगटे खड़े हो गये थे। वे भागनेमें ही उत्साह दिखा रहे थे। शत्रुओंको जीतनेका उत्साह उनके मनमें तनिक भी नहीं था

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca saṃśuṣkāsyāḥ śalannanetrāḥ prasvinnā lomaharṣaṇāḥ | palāyanakṛtotsāhā nirutsāhā dviṣajjaye ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „O König, den Kriegern war der Mund ausgetrocknet; ihre Augen zuckten und irrten vor Furcht. Ihre Leiber waren vom Schweiß durchnässt, und ihnen sträubte sich das Haar. Eifer zeigten sie nur zur Flucht, doch keinerlei Mut, den Feind zu überwinden.“

Word by Word

संजयःSanjaya

उवाचsaid

संशुष्कास्याःhaving dried mouths

शलन्नेत्राःwith trembling/rolling eyes

प्रस्विन्नाःsweating profusely

लोमहर्षणाःwith horripilation (hair standing on end)

पलायनकृतोत्साहाःwhose zeal was for fleeing

निरुत्साहाःspiritless, without enthusiasm

द्विषत्of the enemy / hostile (one)

जयेin victory; in conquering

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Kaurava soldiers (your army)

Enemies (the opposing side)

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 highlights how fear collapses resolve: when inner steadiness is lost, even a powerful force turns its energy toward escape rather than righteous effort. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, courage and disciplined purpose are essential to kṣatriya-dharma; panic signals a breakdown of that duty and of leadership that should sustain morale.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops are overwhelmed—dry-mouthed, trembling-eyed, sweating, and horripilated. Their enthusiasm is directed only toward fleeing, and they lack any motivation to win against the opposing army.