Mahabharata 7.161.46 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 161, Shloka 46

अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa

Chapter 161

Devanagari script

ततो दौणि: कृप: शल्यो हार्दिक्यश्व महारथ: । प्रत्युद्ययुस्तदा पार्थ सुतपुत्रपरीप्सया

Transliteration

tato dhauṇiḥ kṛpaḥ śalyo hārdikyaś ca mahārathaḥ | pratyudyayus tadā pārtha sutaputraparīpsayā ||

Translation

Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces el hijo de Droṇa (Aśvatthāman), Kṛpa, Śalya y el gran guerrero de carro Hārdikya salieron al contraataque, oh Pārtha, con la intención de proteger al hijo del Sūta.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/thereafter')

• द्रौणिः: Drauni (Aśvatthāmā)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कृपः: Kṛpa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शल्यः: Śalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• हार्दिक्यः: Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman)
• हार्दिक्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार्दिक्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: avyaya (conjunction)

• अश्वः: Aśva (Aśvatthāmā; name-element 'Aśva')
• अश्वः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• प्रत्युद्ययुः: set out against; marched forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-या
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd person, plural, parasmaipada

• तदा: then, at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: avyaya (temporal adverb)

• पार्थ: O Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• सुतपुत्रपरीप्सया: with the desire to protect the son (of their master)
• सुतपुत्रपरीप्सया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत-पुत्र-परीप्सा
• Form: feminine, instrumental, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son)
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• Śalya
• Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman)
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Karṇa (Sūtaputra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the battlefield ethic of the epic, immediate dharma often appears as the obligation to protect one’s comrades and uphold one’s pledged side. The verse frames protection of an ally (Karṇa) as a motivating duty that overrides hesitation and prompts coordinated action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Key Kaurava warriors—Aśvatthāman, Kṛpa, Śalya, and Kṛtavarman—move out to counter the opposing force, specifically to safeguard Karṇa (called the Sūtaputra). It signals a tactical response: a protective advance to prevent Karṇa from being overwhelmed.