Shloka 12

जयद्रथवधः — The Slaying of Jayadratha

Sunset Vow and Curse-Condition

Devanagari script

यादृशानि निमित्तानि मम प्रादुर्भवन्ति वै अनस्तंगत आदित्ये हन्ता सैन्धवर्मर्जुन:,“इस समय मेरे सामने जैसे शुभ शकुन प्रकट हो रहे हैं, उनसे जान पड़ता है अर्जुन सूर्यास्त होनेके पहले ही जयद्रथको मार डालेंगे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | yādṛśāni nimittāni mama prādurbhavanti vai | anastaṅgate āditye hantā saindhavam arjunaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «D’après les présages favorables qui se manifestent devant moi, il semble qu’Arjuna tuera assurément Jayadratha (le prince du Sindhu) avant que le soleil ne se couche.»

Word by Word

यादृशानिsuch (as), of what kind

निमित्तानिomens, signs

ममof me, my

प्रादुर्भवन्तिappear, manifest

वैindeed, surely

अनस्तंगतेwhen (it is) not yet set

आदित्येin the sun; while the sun (is up)

हन्ताwill slay; is going to kill

सैन्धवम्the Sindhu-king (Jayadratha)

अर्जुनःArjuna

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna

Jayadratha (Saindhava)

Āditya (the Sun)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how moral resolve and righteous purpose in a dharmic struggle are portrayed as being supported by auspicious signs; it also reflects the epic’s view that inner determination and cosmic indications can converge, strengthening confidence in fulfilling a solemn vow.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that he is witnessing favorable omens indicating Arjuna will succeed in his urgent objective: killing Jayadratha before sunset, a decisive condition tied to Arjuna’s vow and the day’s battle.