Shloka 23

Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption

Devanagari script

पश्य दुःशासनं वीरमभिमन्युवशं गतम्‌

Transliteration

paśya duḥśāsanaṃ vīram abhimanyuvaśaṃ gatam

Translation

Sañjaya dit : « Vois le guerrier Duḥśāsana : il est tombé sous la puissance d’Abhimanyu, amené sous sa domination. » Ce vers souligne les retournements de fortune au combat et la tension morale d’une guerre où la prouesse peut, un instant, soumettre même le plus farouche, tandis que le conflit tout entier demeure mû par l’adharma et la vengeance.

Word by Word

• पश्य: see, behold
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: लोट्, Imperative, 2, Singular, परस्मैपदम्

• दुःशासनम्: Duhshasana (proper name)
• दुःशासनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःशासन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वीरम्: the hero, valiant (one)
• वीरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिमन्युवशम्: under the control/power of Abhimanyu
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिमन्यु-वश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गतम्: gone; having come to (a state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duḥśāsana
• Abhimanyu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a war driven by entrenched hostility, individual moments reveal the impermanence of dominance: a feared warrior can be brought under another’s control. The verse invites reflection on how martial power shifts rapidly, while ethical responsibility (dharma) remains the true measure beyond temporary victories.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duḥśāsana, a prominent Kaurava fighter, has come under Abhimanyu’s control—indicating Abhimanyu’s tactical superiority at that moment in the fighting.