Shloka 433

Śiva’s Battlefield Manifestation and Vyāsa’s Śatarudrīya Exposition (शिवप्रादुर्भावः शतरुद्रीयव्याख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

सम्भ्रान्ता: पर्यधावन्त तस्मिंस्तमसि दारुणे | कुछ लोग अपने वाहनोंको समरांगणमें ही छोड़कर भाग चले। दूसरे लोग उन्हें तेजीसे हॉँकते हुए भागे और कितने ही सैनिक भ्रान्त होकर उस दारुण अन्धकारमें चारों ओर चक्कर काटते रहे

Transliteration

sambhrāntāḥ paryadhāvanta tasmiṃs tamasi dāruṇe |

Translation

Sañjaya said: In that dreadful darkness, the warriors, seized by panic and confusion, ran about in all directions. Some abandoned their chariots and mounts right on the battlefield and fled; others drove their vehicles at full speed to escape; and many, bewildered, kept circling aimlessly in the grim obscurity—showing how fear can dissolve discipline and order in war.

Word by Word

सम्भ्रान्ताःconfused, bewildered

पर्यधावन्तran about, rushed around

तस्मिन्in that

तमसिin darkness

दारुणेterrible, dreadful

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

darkness (tamas)

battlefield (implied)

vehicles/chariots (implied by context)

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?

The verse highlights how tamas—darkness and confusion—can overtake even trained warriors, causing loss of self-control and abandonment of duty. Ethically, it underscores the need for steadiness (dhairya) and clarity of mind in crisis, since fear can quickly erode discipline and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a moment on the battlefield when a dreadful darkness spreads. Soldiers become disoriented: some leave their vehicles behind and flee, others drive away in haste, and many run in circles, unable to find direction.