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Shloka 156

शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्

Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally

ते दृश्यन्तेडपि समरे तावका निहताः परै: । समरांगणमें आपके वे सैनिक शत्रुओंद्वारा मारे जाने लगे। कुछ योद्धा छिन्न-भिन्न हुए रथके पहियों और कुछ कटे हुए विशाल ध्वजोंके साथ ही धराशायी होते दिखायी देने लगे

te dṛśyante 'pi samare tāvakā nihatāḥ paraiḥ |

Sañjaya dit : Alors même qu’on les voyait sur le champ de bataille, tes propres guerriers étaient abattus par l’ennemi. Dans le tumulte du combat, certains semblaient tomber en morceaux parmi des roues de chars brisées, et d’autres s’effondraient avec leurs grands étendards tranchés — image de l’effondrement soudain de l’orgueil guerrier et du prix funeste de la guerre.

तेthey/those
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
दृश्यन्तेare seen/appear
दृश्यन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent, Atmanepada (passive sense), Third, Plural
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
समरेin battle
समरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसमर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
तावकाःyour (men)/belonging to you
तावकाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतावक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
निहताःslain/killed
निहताः:
TypeParticiple
Rootनि-हन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
परैःby others/by the enemies
परैः:
Karana
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied addressee: 'your')
K
Kaurava army (tāvakāḥ)
E
enemy forces (paraiḥ)
B
battlefield (samara)
C
chariot wheels
B
banners/standards (dhvaja, implied by the prose gloss)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the harsh reality and moral weight of war: even mighty armies and symbols of power (chariots, banners) can be swiftly reduced to ruin. It implicitly warns against attachment to victory and pride, highlighting impermanence and the inevitable suffering produced by armed conflict.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops are being killed by the opposing side on the battlefield. He describes scenes of warriors falling amid wrecked chariots and cut-down standards, conveying the chaos and devastation of the ongoing fight.