Shloka 48

अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa

Chapter 161

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट्र रवाच संरब्धं फाल्गुनं दृष्टया कालान्तकयमोपमम्‌

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca saṃrabdhaṃ phālgunaṃ dṛṣṭvā kālāntaka-yamopamam

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Seeing Phālguna (Arjuna) inflamed with wrath, resembling Yama—the bringer of death at the end of time—I am struck with dread.”

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• संरब्धम्: enraged, furious
• संरब्धम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरब्ध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• फाल्गुनम्: Phālguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• कालान्तकयमोपमम्: like Yama, the ender at the time of death (i.e., like Death himself)
• कालान्तकयमोपमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालान्तक-यम-उपम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Phālguna (Arjuna)
• Yama

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger in battle can make even a dharmic warrior appear as an agent of cosmic death, reminding readers that war magnifies destructive forces and burdens rulers with responsibility for the consequences of their choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra reacts to the sight (as reported in the surrounding narration) of Arjuna in a furious, unstoppable mood, likening him to Yama at the end of time—an image that conveys impending slaughter and the king’s fear for his side.