Shloka 10

Devanagari script

बहुभि: पार्थिवैर्गुप्तमस्मत्प्रियचिकीर्षुभि: । अस्मानभिसृतै: कामात्‌ सबलै: सपदानुगै:

Transliteration

bahubhiḥ pārthivair guptam asmat-priya-cikīrṣubhiḥ | asmān abhisṛtaiḥ kāmāt sa-balaiḥ sa-padānugaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ils étaient protégés par de nombreux rois, désireux de faire ce qui nous serait agréable ; et, poussés par ce seul désir, ils s’avancèrent vers nous, venant avec leurs troupes et leurs suivants sur leurs talons.»

Word by Word

बहुभिःby many

पार्थिवैःby kings

गुप्तम्guarded/protected

अस्मत्of us/our

प्रियwhat is dear (to us)

चिकीर्षुभिःby those wishing to do (it)

अस्मान्us

अभिसृतैःby those who have approached/advanced

कामात्out of desire/at will

सबलैःwith forces/with troops

सपदानुगैःwith followers/attendants (those who go after their steps)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

स

संजय (Sañjaya)

प

पार्थिव (kings/rulers)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how kāma (desire/impulse) can become a primary driver of action in war: even ‘service’ to one’s side (doing what is pleasing) may mask passion-driven aggression. Ethically, it invites scrutiny of motives—whether loyalty is guided by discernment or by desire.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a group, shielded by many kings intent on pleasing ‘us’ (the Kaurava side), advanced upon the opposing party with their troops and attendants. It depicts a coordinated approach/assault under strong protection and support.