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Shloka 2

कथं वैषां तदा युद्धे धृतिरासीन्मुमूर्षताम्‌ । शैनेयचरितं दृष्टवा यादृशं सव्यसाचिन:,वे सब-के-सब मरना चाहते थे। उस समय युद्धस्थलमें अर्जुनके समान ही सात्यकिका चरित्र देखकर उनकी कैसी धारणा हुई थी?

sañjaya uvāca | kathaṁ vaiṣāṁ tadā yuddhe dhṛtir āsīn mumūrṣatām | śaineya-caritaṁ dṛṣṭvā yādṛśaṁ savyasācinaḥ ||

Sañjaya said: “How, in that battle, did resolve arise in those men who were ready to die? And when they witnessed the conduct and prowess of Śaineya—so like that of Arjuna (Savyasācin)—what kind of conviction and temper of mind did it produce in them?”

कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
एषाम्of these (men)
एषाम्:
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, plural
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
युद्धेin battle
युद्धे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
Formneuter, locative, singular
धृतिःsteadfastness, resolve
धृतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधृति
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
आसीत्was
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
Formimperfect (laṅ), 3rd, singular
मुमूर्षताम्of those wishing to die
मुमूर्षताम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमुमूर्ष
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, plural
शैनेय-चरितम्the conduct/deeds of Śaineya (Sātyaki)
शैनेय-चरितम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशैनेयचरित
Formneuter, accusative, singular
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)
यादृशम्what kind (of)
यादृशम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootयादृश
Formneuter, accusative, singular
सव्यसाचिनःof Savyasācin (Arjuna)
सव्यसाचिनः:
TypeNoun
Rootसव्यसाचिन्
Formmasculine, genitive, singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
S
Satyaki (Śaineya)
A
Arjuna (Savyasācin)
B
battlefield (yuddha)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights dhṛti—sustaining resolve—as a decisive inner force in war: even those facing death can regain steadiness by witnessing exemplary, disciplined heroism. Ethical emphasis falls on how noble conduct (carita) can stabilize minds and inspire courage amid mortal danger.

Sanjaya describes (or prepares to describe) the battlefield mood: warriors who were ready to die nonetheless found renewed resolve. This change is linked to seeing Sātyaki’s (Śaineya’s) deeds, which resembled Arjuna’s famed prowess, prompting a shift in their confidence and determination.