Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 756

तावका निहते द्रोणे गतासव इवाभवन्‌ | युद्धमें आपके बहुत योद्धा तीखे बाणोंद्वारा मारे गये थे और बहुत-से अधमरे हो रहे थे। द्रोणाचार्यके मारे जानेपर वे सभी निष्प्राण-से हो गये

tāvakā nihate droṇe gatāsava ivābhavan |

Sañjaya dit : Lorsque Droṇa fut tué, les guerriers kauravas devinrent comme privés de vie. Déjà, dans la bataille, nombre des tiens avaient été abattus par des flèches acérées, et beaucoup d’autres gisaient grièvement blessés, à demi morts. Mais la mort de Droṇācārya leur ôta le peu d’élan qui restait, les laissant comme sans souffle—révélant comment la chute d’un chef peut faire s’effondrer la force morale d’une armée au cœur de la rude éthique de la guerre.

तावकाःyour (men/warriors)
तावकाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतावक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
निहतेwhen (he) was slain
निहते:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootनि-हन्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
द्रोणेin/when Drona (was slain)
द्रोणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
गतासवःas if lifeless (lit. whose life has gone)
गतासवः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootगतासु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
इवas if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अभवन्they became / were
अभवन्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
K
Kauravas (tāvakāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how the fall of a central leader can render even a large force powerless in spirit—suggesting that strength in war is not only physical but also psychological and ethical, sustained by trust, command, and perceived righteousness.

After Droṇa is killed, Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava warriors, already devastated by arrows and heavy casualties, become stunned and inert—‘as if lifeless’—as their commander’s death shatters their cohesion.