Shloka 15

शैनेयचरितम्

The Exploits of Śaineya/Sātyaki amid Encirclement

Devanagari script

ततो रणे नरव्यात्र: पार्षत: पाण्डवै: सह । संजघानासकृद्‌ द्रोणं बिभित्सुररिवाहिनीम्‌,तदनन्तर रणक्षेत्रमें पाण्डवोंसहित नरश्रेष्ठ धृष्टद्युम्नने शत्रुसेनाके व्यूहका भेदन करनेकी इच्छासे द्रोणाचार्यपर बारंबार प्रहार किया

Transliteration

tato raṇe naravyāghraḥ pārṣataḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha | sañjaghānāsakṛd droṇaṃ bibhitsur arivāhinīm ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, in the thick of battle, the tiger among men—Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata—together with the Pāṇḍavas, repeatedly struck at Droṇa, intent on breaking the enemy’s battle-formation.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

रणेin battle

नरव्याघ्रःthe tiger among men (best of men)

पार्षतःthe son of Pṛṣat (Dhṛṣṭadyumna)

पाण्डवैःwith/along with the Pāṇḍavas

सहtogether with

संजघानstruck, smote

असकृत्repeatedly, many times

द्रोणम्Droṇa

बिभित्सुःwishing to split/pierce (to break through)

अरिवाहिनीम्the enemy army

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata)

Pāṇḍavas

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

enemy army (arivāhinī)

battlefield (raṇa)

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 the harsh dharma of battlefield life: strategic necessity and loyalty to one’s cause can compel warriors to strike even a venerable figure like Droṇa. It frames action as driven by duty and tactical aims rather than personal hatred.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, fighting alongside the Pāṇḍavas, repeatedly assaults Droṇa with the aim of breaking the opposing army’s formation and weakening the Kaurava battle-line.