Shloka 20

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सैन्यप्रशंसा, भेदनवृत्तान्त-प्रश्नः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Praise of the Host and Inquiry after the Breach

Devanagari script

अध्यर्थेन सहस्रेण पुत्रो दुर्मर्षणस्तव । अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां युध्यमानो व्यवस्थित:,जिनपर युद्धकुशल हाथीसवार आरूढ थे, ऐसे भयंकर रूप तथा पराक्रमवाले डेढ़ हजार कवचधारी मतवाले गजराजोंके साथ आकर आपका पुत्र दुर्मर्षण युद्धके लिये उद्यत हो सम्पूर्ण सेनाओंके आगे खड़ा हुआ

Transliteration

adhyardhena sahasreṇa putro durmarṣaṇas tava | agrataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ yudhyamāno vyavasthitaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Avec une troupe de mille cinq cents, ton fils Durmarṣaṇa, prêt au combat, prit position tout à l’avant de toutes les armées, luttant avec une résolution inébranlable.

Word by Word

अध्यर्धेनby one-and-a-half (i.e., with an additional half)

सहस्रेणwith a thousand

पुत्रःson

दुर्मर्षणःDurmarṣaṇa (proper name)

तवof you/your

अग्रतःin front, at the fore

सर्वसैन्यानाम्of all the armies

युध्यमानःfighting, engaged in battle

व्यवस्थितःstood/positioned, stationed

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Durmarṣaṇa

armies (sainyāni)

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 martial resolve and numerical strength are marshaled to sustain war; ethically, it points to the escalating commitment to violence in a kin-war, where steadfastness in battle can coexist with an increasing weight of adharma and suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Durmarṣaṇa, supported by a contingent of about 1500, advances to the very front of the forces and stands fighting, signaling an aggressive Kaurava posture on the battlefield.