Mahabharata 7.167.165 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 167, Shloka 165

Nārāyaṇāstra-utpātaḥ — Aśvatthāman’s Rallying Roar after Droṇa’s Fall (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६७)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीमहाभारते द्रोणपर्वणि घटोत्कचवधपर्वणि रात्रियुद्धे युधिष्ठिरापयानं नाम पज्चषष्ट्यधिकशततमो<ध्याय:

Transliteration

iti śrīmahābhārate droṇaparvaṇi ghaṭotkacavadhaparvaṇi rātriyuddhe yudhiṣṭhirāpayānaṃ nāma pañcaṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

Así, en el Śrī Mahābhārata, dentro del Droṇa Parva—en la sección sobre la muerte de Ghaṭotkaca, durante la batalla nocturna—concluye el capítulo ciento sesenta y cinco, titulado «La retirada de Yudhiṣṭhira».

Word by Word

• इति: thus; end-quote marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: avyaya

• श्रीमहाभारते: in the holy Mahābhārata
• श्रीमहाभारते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमहाभारत
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• द्रोणपर्वणि: in the Droṇa-parvan
• द्रोणपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपर्वन्
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• घटोत्कचवधपर्वणि: in the sub-parvan (section) on the slaying of Ghaṭotkaca
• घटोत्कचवधपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: घटोत्कचवधपर्वन्
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• रात्रियुद्धे: in the night-battle
• रात्रियुद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रियुद्ध
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• युधिष्ठिरापयानम्: the departure/withdrawal of Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरापयानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिरापयान
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• नाम: named; called
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम
• Form: avyaya

• पञ्चषष्ट्यधिकशततमः: the one-hundred-and-sixty-fifth (chapter)
• पञ्चषष्ट्यधिकशततमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चषष्ट्यधिकशततम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mahābhārata
• Droṇa Parva
• Ghaṭotkaca
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Rātriyuddha (night-battle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

As a chapter-colophon, the verse itself teaches indirectly: even in a dharma-framed war, leaders may be compelled to withdraw when circumstances become overwhelming. Ethical warfare includes prudence—preserving life and regrouping can be a responsible choice rather than mere cowardice.

What is happening in the narrative?

This line marks the formal close of a chapter in the Droṇa Parva, situated in the night-battle episode and within the sub-section on Ghaṭotkaca’s death. The chapter is titled “Yudhiṣṭhira’s Withdrawal,” indicating that the preceding narrative described Yudhiṣṭhira’s retreat/departure in the course of the nocturnal fighting.