Shloka 36

द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः

Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute

Devanagari script

तां दृष्टवा विद्रुतां सेनां वासुदेवधनंजयौ

Transliteration

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā vidrutāṃ senāṃ vāsudevadhanañjayau

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing that army in flight, Vāsudeva and Dhanañjaya marked the rout—an ominous turn in the battle, where courage and duty are tested amid collapsing ranks.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• विद्रुताम्: fleeing, routed
• विद्रुताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्रुत (वि+द्रु)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सेनाम्: army
• सेनाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वासुदेवधनंजयौ: Vāsudeva and Dhanañjaya (Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna)
• वासुदेवधनंजयौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव + धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• वासुदेव / कृष्ण (Vāsudeva / Kṛṣṇa)
• धनंजय / अर्जुन (Dhanañjaya / Arjuna)
• सेना (the army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the chaos of war—when an army breaks and flees—steadfast leadership and clarity of duty (dharma) are required; the verse highlights the ethical pressure of battle where fear spreads and resolve must be restored.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) and Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) observe an army that has begun to flee, indicating a rout or sudden collapse in the battle line and setting up their response to the changing battlefield.