Shloka 19

Devanagari script

तांस्तु विद्रवतो दृष्टवा निरुत्साहान्‌ द्विषज्जये । द्रावयन्निषुभिस्तीक्षणै: श्रुतकर्मा व्यरोचत,शत्रुओंपर विजय पानेका उत्साह छोड़कर भागते हुए उन सैनिकोंको देखकर अपने तीखे बाणोंसे उन्हें खदेड़ते हुए श्रुतकर्माकी अपूर्व शोभा हो रही थी

Transliteration

tāṁstu vidravato dṛṣṭvā nirutsāhān dviṣajjaye | drāvayanniṣubhistīkṣṇaiḥ śrutakarmā vyarocata ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing those warriors fleeing, their spirit for victory over the enemy drained away, Śrutakarmā shone with remarkable brilliance as he drove them on with his sharp arrows, forcing them back toward the fight.

Word by Word

तान्them

तुbut

विद्रवतःfleeing, running away

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

निरुत्साहान्discouraged, without zeal

द्विषत्in/among enemies

जयेin battle/victory

द्रावयन्driving away, causing to flee

इषुभिःwith arrows

तीक्ष्णैःsharp

श्रुतकर्माShrutakarman (name)

व्यरोचत्shone, appeared splendid

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śrutakarmā

fleeing warriors/soldiers

sharp arrows (iṣu)

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 kṣatriya-war ethos: in battle, loss of resolve is treated as a grave failure, and leaders may forcibly restore discipline. It also hints at the ethical tension of war—valor is praised, yet fear and coercion coexist.

What is happening in the narrative?

Some fighters are seen fleeing, having abandoned hope or enthusiasm for defeating the enemy. Śrutakarmā, standing out in splendor, uses sharp arrows to drive them—effectively rallying or pushing them back into the combat line.