Shloka 29

Devanagari script

हत्वा विंशतिसाहस्रान्‌ पञज्चालानां रथव्रजान्‌ । अतिष्ठदाहवे द्रोणो विधूमो5ग्निरिव ज्वलन्‌,उस समय पांचालोंके बीस हजार रथियोंका संहार करके द्रोणाचार्य युद्धस्थलमें धूमरहित प्रज्वलित अग्निके समान खड़े थे

Transliteration

hatvā viṁśatisāhasrān pañcālānāṁ rathavrajān | atiṣṭhad āhave droṇo vidhūmo 'gnir iva jvalan ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having slain twenty thousand of the Pāñcālas’ chariot-warriors, Droṇa stood firm on the battlefield, blazing like a smokeless fire.

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भावार्थ (gerundial)

• विंशति: twenty
• Type: Noun
• Root: विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक (संख्याशब्द-प्रयोग), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• साहस्रान्: thousands
• साहस्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पाञ्चालानाम्: of the Panchalas
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• रथव्रजान्: troops/hosts of chariots (chariot-warriors)
• रथव्रजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथव्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अतिष्ठत्: stood
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• द्रोणः: Drona
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधूमः: smokeless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अग्निः: fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• ज्वलन्: blazing
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa
• Pāñcālas
• ratha (chariots/chariot-warriors)
• agni (fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the paradox of dharma in war: extraordinary prowess and steadfastness can coexist with immense destruction. The simile of a smokeless fire suggests a concentrated, consuming force—inviting reflection on how duty-driven action may still carry grave ethical consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa has slaughtered a vast number of Pāñcāla chariot-warriors and remains standing unshaken in the fight, described as blazing like a smokeless fire—emphasizing his dominance and the intensity of the battle.