Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 9

Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira

Book 9, Chapter 11

Devanagari script

बलिभि: पाण्डवैर्दप्तैर्लब्धलक्षै: प्रहारिभि: । कौरव्यसीदत्‌ पृतना मृगीवाग्निसमाकुला

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

balibhiḥ pāṇḍavair daptair labdhalakṣaiḥ prahāribhiḥ |

kauravy asīdat pṛtanā mṛgīvāgnisamākulā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Struck by the mighty Pāṇḍavas—proud of their prowess, unfailing in aim, and skilled in delivering blows—the Kaurava host began to collapse, like a doe hemmed in by a raging forest-fire.

Word by Word

• बलिभिः: by the strong (ones)
• बलिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पाण्डवैः: by the Pandavas
• पाण्डवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• दप्तैः: proud, haughty
• दप्तैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दप्त
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• लब्धलक्षैः: having obtained the mark (never missing the aim)
• लब्धलक्षैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध-लक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रहारिभिः: by the strikers/attackers
• प्रहारिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कौरव्य: Kaurava (belonging to the Kauravas)
• कौरव्य: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौरव्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• असीदत्: sank, drooped, was distressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पृतना: army
• पृतना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृतना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मृगी: a doe
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

• अग्निसमाकुला: confused/overwhelmed by fire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि-समाकुल
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Kauravas
• pṛtanā (army)
• agni (fire)
• mṛgī (doe/deer)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how superior skill and unwavering effectiveness in action can shatter an opposing force’s stability; it also evokes the ethical tragedy of war by comparing the terrified army to a helpless deer trapped by wildfire.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops are reeling and beginning to collapse under the powerful, accurate, and forceful attacks of the Pāṇḍava warriors.