Shloka 4

Devanagari script

अभीषाहान्‌ शूरसेनान्‌ क्षत्रियान्‌ युद्धदुर्मदान्‌

Transliteration

abhīṣāhān śūrasenān kṣatriyān yuddha-durmadān

Translation

Sañjaya said: “They were the Śūrasena Kṣatriyas—men hard to assail, proud of their heroism, and made reckless by the intoxication of war.”

Word by Word

• अभीषाहान्: very formidable/terrifying
• अभीषाहान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीषाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शूरसेनान्: the Śūrasenas (people/warriors of Śūrasena)
• शूरसेनान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूरसेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• क्षत्रियान्: Kṣatriyas, warriors
• क्षत्रियान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• युद्धदुर्मदान्: arrogant/maddened because of battle
• युद्धदुर्मदान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्धदुर्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संयज उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Saṁjaya
• Śūrasenas
• Kṣatriyas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights a recurring epic ethic: martial prowess and Kṣatriya valor can slide into yuddha-durmada—war-born arrogance—showing how the duty of battle, when fueled by pride, intensifies cruelty and clouds discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Saṁjaya is describing a contingent of warriors—identified as Śūrasena Kṣatriyas—characterizing them as formidable and battle-intoxicated, as part of the ongoing war report in the Droṇa Parva.