Shloka 14

द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः

Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry

Devanagari script

त॑ विराटो<न्वयाच्छीघ्रं सह सर्वर्महारथै: । केकयाश्र शिखण्डी च धृष्टकेतुस्तथैव च

Transliteration

tato virāṭo 'nvayāc chīghraṃ saha sarvair mahārathaiḥ | kekayāś ca śikhaṇḍī ca dhṛṣṭaketuś tathaiva ca ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Alors Virāṭa s’avança promptement, accompagné de tous les grands guerriers de char ; les Kekaya se mirent eux aussi en mouvement, ainsi que Śikhaṇḍī, et de même Dhṛṣṭaketu.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (him/it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विराटः: Virāṭa
• विराटः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्वयात्: followed / went after
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-या
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• महारथैः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• केकयाः: the Kekayas
• केकयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शिखण्डी: Śikhaṇḍī
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• धृष्टकेतुः: Dhṛṣṭaketu
• धृष्टकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Virāṭa
• Mahārathas
• Kekayas
• Śikhaṇḍī
• Dhṛṣṭaketu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of collective responsibility in war: leaders and allied champions must act decisively and in coordination, reflecting kṣatriya-duty and loyalty amid a morally complex conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that King Virāṭa swiftly advances in battle along with the elite chariot-warriors; the Kekaya contingent, Śikhaṇḍī, and Dhṛṣṭaketu also move forward, indicating a coordinated push by Pāṇḍava-aligned forces.