Shloka 21

Devanagari script

त॑ प्रयान्तं नरश्रेष्ठं पुत्रो दःशासनस्तव

Transliteration

taṁ prayāntaṁ naraśreṣṭhaṁ putro daḥśāsanas tava

Translation

Sañjaya said: As that best of men was departing, your son Duḥśāsana also moved in response.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रयान्तम्: going forth / departing
• प्रयान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb-derived Adjective (Present Participle)
• Root: प्र-या (धातु: या)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नरश्रेष्ठम्: the best of men
• नरश्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (used appositionally)
• Root: नरश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुःशासनः: Duhshasana
• दुःशासनः: Karta
• Type: Proper Noun
• Root: दुःशासन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Duḥśāsana
• naraśreṣṭha (unnamed best of men)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how the actions of prominent warriors immediately provoke responses from others—especially in war—highlighting the chain of consequence and the ethical weight of following leaders into conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that as a foremost warrior departs or advances, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son Duḥśāsana is involved in the ensuing movement or reaction, indicating Kaurava participation in the unfolding battle episode.