Shloka 69

Devanagari script

सीदन्‌ रुधिरसिक्तश्न रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्‌ | सूतेनापह्वतस्तूर्ण द्रोणपुत्राद रथान्तरम्‌,कवच छिज्न-भिन्न हो जानेसे शूरवीर सात्यकि अंकुशोंकी मार खाये हुए हाथीके समान व्यथित हो उठे। उनके घावोंसे अधिक रक्त बह रहा था। वे शिथिल एवं खूनसे लथपथ हो धनुष-बाण छोड़कर रथके पिछले भागमें बैठ गये। तब सारथि तुरंत ही उन्हें द्रोणपुत्रके पाससे दूसरे रथीके पास हटा ले गया

Transliteration

sīdan rudhira-siktaḥ śna rathopasthe upāviśat | sūtenāpahvatas tūrṇaṁ droṇaputrād rathāntaram ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Exhausted and drenched in blood, he sat down upon the chariot-seat. At the charioteer’s urgent call, he was swiftly driven away from Droṇa’s son toward another chariot.

Word by Word

सीदन्sinking down, becoming faint

रुधिरblood

सिक्तःsmeared/drenched

रथोपस्थेon the chariot-seat/platform

उपाविशत्sat down

सूतेनby the charioteer

अपह्वतःof (him) calling/urging

तूर्णम्quickly

द्रोणपुत्रात्from Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)

रथान्तरम्another chariot / a different chariot-position

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman)

charioteer (sūta)

chariot (ratha)

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?

Even in a dharmic war, discernment matters: when a warrior is incapacitated, withdrawing under a charioteer’s guidance is not cowardice but a responsible choice that preserves life and enables future duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

A blood-soaked, exhausted warrior collapses onto the chariot-seat; the charioteer quickly drives him away from Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman) toward another chariot position, removing him from immediate danger.