Shloka 17

Devanagari script

सेनापतिस्तु समरे प्राह सेनां महारथ:

Transliteration

senāpatistu samare prāha senāṁ mahārathaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the midst of battle, the commander of the army addressed the host—he, the great chariot-warrior—issuing words meant to direct the forces in the crisis of war.

Word by Word

• सेनापतिः: the commander (of the army)
• सेनापतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनापति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• प्राह: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सेनाम्: the army
• सेनाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• senāpati (commander-in-chief)
• senā (army)
• mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violence and confusion, leadership is framed as a duty: the commander must speak clearly and direct the army responsibly, reflecting the disciplined execution of kṣatriya-dharma rather than impulsive aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that, during the battle, the army’s commander—described as a mahāratha—addresses the troops, signaling a moment of command and coordination within the unfolding combat.