Shloka 25

Bhīṣma-parva Adhyāya 16 — Saṃjaya’s Boon, Bhīṣma’s Protection, and the Dawn Arraying of Armies

Devanagari script

धृष्टद्युम्नमुखा: सर्वे समुद्विविजिरे मुहुः । धृष्टद्युम्न आदि सूंजयवंशी उन्हें देखकर बारंबार उद्विग्न हो उठते थे। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे मुँह बाये हुए विशाल सिंहको देखकर क्षुद्र मृग भयसे व्याकुल हो उठते हैं || २४ ई ।। एकादशैता: श्रीजुष्टा वाहिन्यस्तव पार्थिव

Transliteration

dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhāḥ sarve samudvivijire muhuḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: All those led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna repeatedly grew agitated and alarmed. Seeing him, they were thrown into fear again and again—like small deer that become frantic at the sight of a huge lion with gaping jaws.

Word by Word

• धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाः: having Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna at the head / led by Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna
• धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्नमुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समुद्विविजिरे: became greatly agitated / were repeatedly alarmed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√विज् (विजते)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, सम्,उद्

• मुहुः: again and again / repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुस्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and practical reality that in warfare, inner steadiness is as decisive as weapons: repeated fear and agitation can undermine even a large force, while a formidable leader’s presence can dominate the opponent’s mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the troops facing Dhṛṣṭadyumna are repeatedly unsettled on seeing him, using a vivid simile—small deer panicking before a great lion—to convey the imbalance of confidence on the battlefield.