Shloka 16

Devanagari script

ततः प्रादीर्यत चमूर्थनंजयशराहता

Transliteration

tataḥ prādīryata camūr dhananjaya-śarāhatā

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Da zerbrach das Heer, von den Pfeilen Dhanañjayas (Arjunas) getroffen, und geriet in wirre Unordnung.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्ययम्

• प्रादीर्यत: burst forth / was rent / broke out
• प्रादीर्यत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अorist), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्

• चमूः: the army
• चमूः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• अर्जुन: of Arjuna
• अर्जुन: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वे)

• शर: by arrows
• शर: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, तृतीया, बहुवचनम् (समासपूर्वपदत्वे)

• आहता: struck, smitten
• आहता: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + हन् (धातु) → आहत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (चमूः इति विशेष्येण सह)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• camū (army)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In war, collective strength depends on cohesion and morale; when leadership and formation are effectively struck, even a large host can collapse. The verse also reflects the kṣatriya ideal of decisive, disciplined action in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna’s arrows hit the opposing forces so powerfully that the army’s formation broke apart, indicating panic and disarray on the battlefield.