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Shloka 13

अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana

पदातिसंघाश्षाश्वौधै: पलायद्विर्भुशं हता: । भागते हुए हाथियोंने बहुत-से रथ तोड़ डाले, बड़े-बड़े रथोंने घुड़सवारोंको कुचल दिया और दौड़ते हुए अश्वसमूहोंने पैदल सैनिकोंको अत्यन्त घायल कर दिया ।। व्यालतस्करसंकीर्णे सार्थहीना यथा वने

padātisaṅghāś ca aśvaughaiḥ palāyadbhir bhuśaṃ hatāḥ | vyāla-taskara-saṅkīrṇe sārtha-hīnā yathā vane ||

Sañjaya sprach: Die Massen der Fußsoldaten wurden von den fliehenden Strömen der Pferde schwer getroffen und niedergestreckt. Das Schlachtfeld, durch Panik und Niedertrampeln in Wirrnis gestürzt, glich einem Wald, in dem eine Karawane, ihrer Führer und Ordnung beraubt, zwischen Raubtieren und Wegelagerern zerstreut wird — ein Bild dafür, wie der Krieg in Gesetzlosigkeit und Furcht zerfällt.

पदाति-संघाःmasses of foot-soldiers
पदाति-संघाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपदाति + संघ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अश्व-ओघैःby torrents/hosts of horses
अश्व-ओघैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व + ओघ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
पलायत्fleeing
पलायत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपलाय्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
द्विःtwice; again and again
द्विः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootद्विस्
भृशम्exceedingly; greatly
भृशम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभृश
हताःslain; struck down
हताः:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
व्याल-तस्कर-संकीर्णेin (a place) crowded with beasts and robbers
व्याल-तस्कर-संकीर्णे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootव्याल + तस्कर + संकीर्ण
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
सार्थ-हीनाdeprived of their caravan/company
सार्थ-हीना:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसार्थ + हीन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
यथाas; like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
वनेin a forest
वने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
H
horses (aśvāḥ)
I
infantry (padātayaḥ)
F
forest (vana)
C
caravan (sārtha)
B
beasts (vyālāḥ)
B
bandits (taskarāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores how quickly war dissolves social and moral order: once fear and flight take over, even one’s own forces become instruments of harm, and the scene resembles a lawless wilderness where the unprotected are prey to danger.

Sañjaya describes a rout and confusion in battle: rushing, fleeing masses of horses crush and grievously injure the infantry, and the field becomes like a forest where a caravan without leadership is scattered amid beasts and robbers.