Shloka 15

Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa

Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्‌ दहतः सैन्यं दृष्टवा चैव पराक्रमम्‌ | सर्वे शान्तिपरा योधा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पश्यत:,कौरव-योद्धाओंको दग्ध करनेवाले अर्जुनका वह पराक्रम देखकर सभी सैनिक दुर्योधनके सामने ही ठण्डे पड़ गये

Transliteration

tasya tad dahataḥ sainyaṁ dṛṣṭvā caiva parākramam | sarve śāntiparā yodhā dhārtarāṣṭrasya paśyataḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing Arjuna’s prowess as he burned and routed that army, all the warriors—before the very eyes of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son—lost their fighting spirit and turned toward peace, their ardor cooled by the overwhelming display of power.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that (of Arjuna)
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दहतः: of (him) burning
• दहतः: Sambandha
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• पराक्रमम्: valor, prowess
• पराक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शान्ति-पराः: inclined to peace
• शान्ति-पराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्ति-पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• योधाः: warriors
• योधाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योद्धृ/योध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धार्तराष्ट्रस्य: of Dhritarashtra's son (Duryodhana)
• धार्तराष्ट्रस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पश्यतः: while (he) was watching / in the presence of (him) seeing
• पश्यतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• Duryodhana (Dhārtarāṣṭra)
• Kaurava warriors
• the army (sainya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unchecked aggression and unjust intent (adharma) can collapse when confronted by superior skill and rightful resolve; the verse highlights how morale and ethical confidence in war depend not only on numbers but on the perceived legitimacy and strength of the opposing side.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna’s devastating counterattack scorches and routs the opposing host; witnessing this directly, Duryodhana’s warriors lose their will to fight and become peace-seeking, their confidence broken by Arjuna’s overwhelming prowess.