Shloka 19
बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः
Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra
Devanagari script
तेषां प्रद्रवतां चापि पुनरेवाभिधावताम्
Transliteration
teṣāṃ pradravatāṃ cāpi punar evābhidhāvatām
Translation
Vaiśampāyana dit : Même en fuyant, ils se retournèrent encore et chargèrent de nouveau — révélant l’oscillation fébrile entre la peur et la résolution qui pousse les guerriers dans la mêlée du combat.
Word by Word
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, genitive, plural
प्रद्रवताम्of (those) running forth
प्रद्रवताम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + द्रु (धावने)
Formpresent active participle, masculine/neuter, genitive, plural
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
अभिधावताम्of (those) running towards/charging
अभिधावताम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि + धाव् (गतौ)
Formpresent active participle, masculine/neuter, genitive, plural
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The line highlights the unstable human mind under pressure: fear can cause retreat, yet duty, pride, or renewed courage can immediately reverse it. In a dharmic frame, it reflects the kṣatriya struggle to master fear and return to rightful action.
A group in the battle first breaks and runs, but then turns back and rushes forward again, re-entering the fight.