Shloka 25

भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal

Devanagari script

ततः क्षीणे हयानीके किंचिच्छेषे च भारत । सौबलस्यानुजा: शूरा निर्गता रणमूर्थनि,भारत! इस प्रकार जब घुड़सवारोंकी सेना नष्ट हो गयी और उसका अल्पभाग ही अवशिष्ट रह गया; उस अवस्थामें शकुनिके शूरवीर भाई युद्धके मुहानेपर निकले

Transliteration

tataḥ kṣīṇe hayānīke kiñciccheṣe ca bhārata | saubalasya anujāḥ śūrā nirgātā raṇamūrdhani ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, O Bhārata, when the cavalry formation had been exhausted and only a small remnant remained, the valiant younger brothers of Saubala (Śakuni) came forth to the very forefront of the battle.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

क्षीणेwhen (it was) diminished/ended

हयof horses

अनीकेin the army/host

किंचित्a little, somewhat

शेषेremaining, left over

चand

भारतO Bharata

सौबलस्यof Saubala (Shakuni)

अनुजाःyounger brothers

शूराःvaliant, heroic

निर्गताःhaving gone out, emerged

रणof battle

मूर्धनिon the head/top; at the forefront

भारतO Bharata

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Saubala (Śakuni)

Śakuni's younger brothers

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 a battlefield ethic of stepping forward when one’s side is weakened: leadership and courage are shown by filling the gap after losses, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of not abandoning the fight when the line breaks.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the cavalry contingent has been largely destroyed and only a small remainder is left, Śakuni’s younger brothers advance to the front line, indicating a renewed push by the Kaurava side at a critical moment.