Shloka 57

दुर्योधन-कर्ण-संवादः

Duryodhana–Karna Dialogue on Vyūha-bheda and Daiva

Devanagari script

तेषु प्रक्षीयमाणेषु चेदिमुख्येषु सर्वश: । पज्चाला: समकम्पन्त द्रोणसायकपीडिता:,चेदि देशके प्रधान वीर जब इस प्रकार नष्ट होने लगे, तब द्रोणाचार्यके बाणोंसे पीड़ित हुए पांचालयोद्धा थर-थर काँपने लगे

Transliteration

teṣu prakṣīyamāṇeṣu cedimukhyeṣu sarvaśaḥ | pāñcālāḥ samakampanta droṇasāyakapīḍitāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: As the foremost warriors of Cedi were being steadily cut down on every side, the Pāñcāla fighters—tormented by Droṇa’s arrows—began to tremble.

Word by Word

• तेषु: among them / in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• प्रक्षीयमाणेषु: while (they were) being diminished / perishing
• प्रक्षीयमाणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Participle
• Root: प्र-क्षि (क्षीयते)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural, Atmanepada (passive/intransitive sense), Present, Śatṛ/Śānac (present participle)

• चेदिमुख्येषु: among the chief Cedis
• चेदिमुख्येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: चेदि + मुख्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• सर्वशः: entirely / on all sides / in every way
• सर्वशः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व

• पाञ्चालाः: the Pāñcālas
• पाञ्चालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समकम्पन्त: trembled / shook
• समकम्पन्त: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कम्प्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• द्रोणसायकपीडिताः: afflicted by Droṇa's arrows
• द्रोणसायकपीडिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective (past participle)
• Root: द्रोण + सायक + पीडित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇācārya (Droṇa)
• Cedi (Cedis)
• Pāñcāla (Pāñcālas)
• arrows (sāyaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the psychological dimension of dharma-yuddha: martial skill and relentless pressure can break collective morale, and the downfall of leading warriors often triggers fear and instability among allies—showing how outcomes in war depend not only on valor but also on cohesion and confidence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that as the chief Cedi warriors are being slain from all directions, the Pāñcāla troops, struck and harassed by Droṇa’s arrows, begin to tremble—indicating Droṇa’s dominance on the battlefield at this moment.