Shloka 46

अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa

Chapter 161

Devanagari script

ततो दौणि: कृप: शल्यो हार्दिक्यश्व महारथ: । प्रत्युद्ययुस्तदा पार्थ सुतपुत्रपरीप्सया

Transliteration

tato dhauṇiḥ kṛpaḥ śalyo hārdikyaś ca mahārathaḥ | pratyudyayus tadā pārtha sutaputraparīpsayā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman), Kṛpa, Śalya, and the great chariot-warrior Hārdikya set out in counter-advance, O Pārtha, intent on protecting the Sūta’s son.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

द्रौणिःDrauni (Aśvatthāmā)

कृपःKṛpa

शल्यःŚalya

हार्दिक्यःHārdikya (Kṛtavarman)

चand

अश्वःAśva (Aśvatthāmā; name-element 'Aśva')

महारथःgreat chariot-warrior

प्रत्युद्ययुःset out against; marched forth

तदाthen, at that time

पार्थO Pārtha (Arjuna)

सुतपुत्रपरीप्सयाwith the desire to protect the son (of their master)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son)

Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)

Śalya

Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman)

Pārtha (Arjuna)

Karṇa (Sūtaputra)

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?

In the battlefield ethic of the epic, immediate dharma often appears as the obligation to protect one’s comrades and uphold one’s pledged side. The verse frames protection of an ally (Karṇa) as a motivating duty that overrides hesitation and prompts coordinated action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Key Kaurava warriors—Aśvatthāman, Kṛpa, Śalya, and Kṛtavarman—move out to counter the opposing force, specifically to safeguard Karṇa (called the Sūtaputra). It signals a tactical response: a protective advance to prevent Karṇa from being overwhelmed.