Shloka 41

Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)

Devanagari script

मुक्तकेशा विकवचा विरथाश्शकछिन्नकार्मुका: । बाहुभि: समयुध्यन्त सूंजया: कुरुभि: सह,कवच और रथसे रहित हो धनुष कट जानेपर अपने बाल खोले हुए कितने ही सूंजय वीर कौरवोंके साथ केवल भुजाओंद्वारा मल्लयुद्ध कर रहे थे

Transliteration

muktakeśā vikavacā virathāś chinna-kārmukāḥ | bāhubhiḥ samayudhyanta sūñjayāḥ kurubhiḥ saha ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Many of the Sṛñjaya warriors—hair loosened, stripped of armor, deprived of chariots, and with their bows cut down—still fought on with the Kuru soldiers, engaging them hand-to-hand with their own arms.

Word by Word

मुक्तकेशाःhaving loosened hair / with hair unbound

विकवचाःwithout armor

विरथाःwithout chariots

शस्त्रच्छिन्नकार्मुकाःwhose bows were cut by weapons

बाहुभिःwith (their) arms

समयुध्यन्तthey fought

सूंजयाःthe Sṛñjayas (warriors of Sṛñjaya line)

कुरुभिःwith the Kurus

सहtogether with

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Sṛñjaya warriors (Sūñjaya/Sṛñjaya)

Kuru warriors

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness in battle: even when external supports—armor, chariot, and weapons—are lost, a warrior’s resolve and duty-driven courage can persist. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya ideal of not abandoning one’s post in the face of adversity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield turning brutal and close-range: Sṛñjaya fighters, having lost armor, chariots, and even their bows, continue fighting the Kuru troops directly with their arms in wrestling-like combat.