Shloka 90

युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya

Devanagari script

तेषामापततां वेगमविषदहां निरीक्ष्य च

Transliteration

teṣām āpatatāṁ vegam aviṣadahāṁ nirīkṣya ca

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing the onrushing speed of those attackers—whose advance was like a fire that cannot be quenched—he marked their irresistible momentum.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• आपतताम्: of (those) rushing/charging
• आपतताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पत्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural, present active participle (śatṛ), gen. pl.

• वेगम्: speed, impetus
• वेगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• अविषदहाम्: unbearable/irresistible (lit. not-to-be-endured)
• अविषदहाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविषदह
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• निरीक्ष्य: having seen, observing
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ईक्ष्
• Form: absolutive (ktvā/lyap), gerund

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical realism of war: when destructive momentum becomes collective and unrestrained, it resembles an unquenchable fire. It cautions against underestimating escalating violence and implies the need for vigilant discernment (nirīkṣaṇa) and responsible action amid chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that a key figure (implied by context beyond this half-verse) observes the charging warriors and recognizes the force of their attack—swift, overwhelming, and seemingly impossible to check—setting up the next tactical or emotional response in the battle scene.