Shloka 12

Uddhava Recalls Kṛṣṇa’s Mission: Earth’s Burden, Royal Dharma, and the Prelude to Dvārakā’s Withdrawal

Devanagari script

अथ ते भ्रातृपुत्राणां पक्षयो: पतितान्नृपान् । चचाल भू: कुरुक्षेत्रं येषामापततां बलै: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

atha te bhrātṛ-putrāṇāṁ pakṣayoḥ patitān nṛpān cacāla bhūḥ kurukṣetraṁ yeṣām āpatatāṁ balaiḥ

Translation

Then, O Vidura, the Lord brought about the death of the kings on both sides—enemies and those allied with your fighting nephews—in the battle of Kurukṣetra. They were so mighty that as they moved across the field, the earth seemed to tremble.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक (then/now)

• ते: of him/ his
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive singular)

• भ्रातृपुत्राणाम्: of the sons of (his) brother
• भ्रातृपुत्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष (brother’s sons)

• पक्षयोः: of the two sides
• पक्षयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (genitive dual)

• पतितान्: fallen
• पतितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त) ← पत् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• नृपान्: kings
• नृपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चचाल: shook/moved
• चचाल: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देशवाचक-समास

• येषाम्: of whom
• येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (relative pronoun)

• आपतताम्: (while) rushing upon/attacking
• आपतताम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आपत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे वर्तमान-कृदन्तवत् (present participial sense); प्रथमा-बहुवचन-समर्थ (those who were rushing/falling upon)

• बलैः: with armies/forces
• बलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental)

Characters & Entities

• Kauravas
• Pandavas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Kurukshetra war?

This verse depicts the Kurukṣetra battlefield so intense that the earth itself trembled as the rival parties (cousins) attacked with their armies and many kings fell.

Who is speaking these verses about Kurukshetra in Canto 3?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating the events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the broader Bhagavata account.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

It highlights how collective conflict shakes society at its foundations—urging seekers to choose dharma, restraint, and devotion over factional hatred and destructive rivalry.