Shloka 9

महारथौ तौ परिवार्य सर्वतः सुरासुरा: शम्बरवासवाविव । “किसीको युद्धसे मुँह मोड़कर भागना नहीं चाहिये” इस नियमसे प्रेरित होकर आपके और शत्रुपक्षके सैनिक उन दोनों महारथियोंको चारों ओरसे घेरकर उसी प्रकार युद्धमें डटे रहे, जैसे पूर्वकालमें देवता और असुर, इन्द्र और शम्बरासुरको घेरकर खड़े हुए थे ।। मृदड्रभेरीपणवानकस्वनै: ससिंहनादैर्नदतुर्नरोत्तमौ

sañjaya uvāca |

mahārathau tau parivārya sarvataḥ surāsurāḥ śambaravāsavāv iva |

“kasyacid yuddhāt mukhaṁ moḍayitvā palāyanaṁ na kartavyam” iti niyamena preritāḥ tava ca śatrupakṣasya ca sainikāḥ tau ubhau mahārathī sarvato gheritvā tathā yuddhe ’vatiṣṭhanta, yathā purā devāś ca asurāś ca indraṁ ca śambarāsuraṁ ca parivārya tasthuḥ ||

mṛdaṅga-bherī-paṇava-ānaka-svanaiḥ sa-siṁha-nādaiḥ nadatur narottamau ||

Sañjaya dijo: Aquellos dos grandes guerreros de carro fueron cercados por todas partes, como antaño los dioses y los asuras rodearon a Vāsava (Indra) y a Śambara. Impulsados por la norma de que nadie debe volver el rostro a la batalla y huir, los soldados de tu bando y los del bando enemigo se mantuvieron firmes en la lucha, cerrando el cerco en torno a aquellos dos héroes. Entre el estruendo de los mṛdaṅgas, bherīs, paṇavas y ānakas, y con rugidos como de león, los dos más eminentes de los hombres tronaron sin cesar.

महारथौthe two great chariot-warriors
महारथौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
परिवार्यhaving surrounded
परिवार्य:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-√वृ (वृणोति/वर्तते) → परिवारयति
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active
सर्वतःon all sides
सर्वतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः
सुराःgods
सुराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसुर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
असुराःdemons/asuras
असुराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअसुर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शम्बरŚambara (asura)
शम्बर:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशम्बर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वासवौVāsava (Indra)
वासवौ:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवासव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
मृदङ्गwith mṛdaṅga-drums
मृदङ्ग:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमृदङ्ग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
भेरीwith kettle-drums
भेरी:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभेरी
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
पणवwith paṇava-drums
पणव:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपणव
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
आनकwith war-drums (ānaka)
आनक:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootआनक
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
स्वनैःwith sounds
स्वनैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
together with
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सिंहनादैःwith lion-roars
सिंहनादैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसिंहनाद
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
नदतुःthey two roared/sounded
नदतुः:
TypeVerb
Root√नद्
FormPresent, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Third, Dual
नरौत्तमौthe two best of men
नरौत्तमौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनर-उत्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'tava')
T
two mahārathas (unnamed in this verse)
G
gods (suras)
A
asuras
V
Vāsava/Indra
Ś
Śambara (asura)
S
soldiers of both armies
M
mṛdaṅga
B
bherī
P
paṇava
Ā
ānaka

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a battlefield ethic aligned with kṣatriya-dharma: one should not turn away from combat and flee. This norm is presented as a motivating discipline that keeps warriors steady even amid danger.

Sañjaya describes two great chariot-warriors being encircled by troops from both sides, who hold their ground under the rule against retreat. The scene is intensified by drums and lion-like battle-cries, and is compared to the ancient encirclement of Indra and the asura Śambara.