Shloka 583

Bhūriśravas–Sātyaki Saṃvāda and Duel; Arjuna’s Intervention (भूरिश्रवाः–सात्यकि संवादः, युद्धम्, अर्जुन-हस्तक्षेपः)

Devanagari script

पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये । आपके योद्धा शत्रुओंपर विजय पानेका उत्साह खो बैठे। अब वे भाग निकलनेमें ही उत्साह दिखाने लगे और युद्धसे मुँह मोड़कर चारों ओर भाग गये

Transliteration

palāyanakṛtotsāhā nirutsāhā dviṣajjaye |

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Tes guerriers, ayant perdu tout élan pour vaincre l’ennemi, ne trouvèrent plus d’énergie que dans la fuite. Tournant le dos au combat, ils se dispersèrent et coururent en tous sens.

Word by Word

• पलायनकृतोत्साहाः: having zeal directed to flight / eager to flee
• पलायनकृतोत्साहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन-कृत-उत्साह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निरुत्साहाः: spiritless, without enthusiasm
• निरुत्साहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुत्साह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्विषत्: of the enemies
• द्विषत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• जये: in victory (in the matter of victory)
• जये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• your warriors (Kaurava army implied)
• enemies (Pāṇḍava side implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how inner resolve (utsāha) determines action: when dhairya and purpose collapse, the same energy that should uphold duty in battle turns into eagerness for escape. It implicitly critiques a loss of steadfastness and the ethical cost of abandoning one’s post in a crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops have become demoralized. Instead of pressing for victory over the enemy, they turn away from combat and flee in all directions, signaling a breakdown of formation and morale.