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Shloka 23

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

नाप्तवन्तः कुरुक्षेत्रे युद्धञ्चक्रुर्बलान्विताः / अक्षौहिणीभिर्दिव्याभिः सप्तभिः परिवारिताः

Transliteration

nāptavantaḥ kurukṣetre yuddhañcakrurbalānvitāḥ / akṣauhiṇībhirdivyābhiḥ saptabhiḥ parivāritāḥ

Translation

Al no alcanzar lo que buscaban, libraron batalla en Kurukṣetra, colmados de fuerza, y rodeados por siete ejércitos akṣauhiṇī de naturaleza divina.

Word by Word
नnot
न:
Negation (निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)
आप्तवन्तःhaving obtained
आप्तवन्तः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√आप् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
Formकर्तरि कृदन्त (past active participle/क्तवत्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having obtained’
कुरुक्षेत्रेin Kurukṣetra
कुरुक्षेत्रे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकुरु + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘कुरूणां क्षेत्रम्’
युद्धम्battle
युद्धम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
चक्रुःthey did/made
चक्रुः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कृ (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
बलान्विताःendowed with strength
बलान्विताः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootबल + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘बलेन अन्विताः’ (endowed with strength)
अक्षौहिणीभिःby (many) armies (akṣauhiṇīs)
अक्षौहिणीभिः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअक्षौहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन
दिव्याभिःdivine, splendid
दिव्याभिः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (अक्षौहिणीभिः)
सप्तभिःby seven
सप्तभिः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (अक्षौहिणीभिः)
परिवारिताःsurrounded
परिवारिताः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootपरि + √वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘surrounded’
Speaker

Uncertain from isolated verse (likely within the Viṣṇu–Garuḍa dialogue, but needs surrounding context to confirm)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When rightful claims are denied, collective karma ripens into war; adharma precipitates large-scale suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma’s restoration may require painful action; outcomes unfold through prārabdha and collective causality, while inner detachment remains ideal.

Application: Recognize how systemic injustice escalates into conflict; address grievances early; understand consequences of refusal and pride.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield (dharmakṣetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: war as fruit of adharma; didactic reminders that violence arises from greed and envy (thematic).

Characters & Entities
K
Kurukṣetra
A
Akṣauhiṇī

FAQs

An akṣauhiṇī is a classical measure of a full army formation; this verse emphasizes the scale by mentioning seven divine akṣauhiṇīs surrounding the combatants.

Kurukṣetra functions as a culturally recognized symbol of dharma-yuddha and decisive conflict; this verse invokes that frame to describe a powerful, large-scale battle scene.

Treat conflict as a dharmic responsibility: act with strength and discipline, but ensure the goal (āpti) is righteous—otherwise even great power leads to fruitless struggle.

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