Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

एष मूर्थाभिषिक्तानामग्रे गत्वा परंतप: । सतृणं ग्रसते पांसुं पश्य कालस्य पर्ययम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | eṣa mūrdhābhiṣiktānām agre gatvā paraṃtapaḥ | sa-tṛṇaṃ grasate pāṃsuṃ paśya kālasya paryayam ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Vois le renversement opéré par le Temps ! Ce Duryodhana—jadis “fléau des ennemis”, qui allait en tête des rois consacrés—gît maintenant, contraint d’avaler la poussière avec des brins d’herbe. Voilà la volte-face du Temps !»

Word by Word

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मूर्धाभिषिक्तानाम्: of the consecrated (anointed) kings
• मूर्धाभिषिक्तानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धाभिषिक्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अग्रे: in front, ahead
• अग्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र
• Form: true

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• परंतपः: foe-scorcher (epithet)
• परंतपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स-तृणम्: together with grass/straw
• स-तृणम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तृण
• Form: true

• ग्रसते: devours, gulps down
• ग्रसते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रस्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• पांसुम्: dust
• पांसुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पांसु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पश्य: see!, behold!
• पश्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present, Imperative, Parasmaipada, Second, Singular

• कालस्य: of Time (fate)
• कालस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पर्ययम्: reversal, turn of events
• पर्ययम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्यय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• mūrdhābhiṣikta-rājāḥ (consecrated kings)
• kāla (Time/Fate)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the sovereignty of Kāla (Time/Fate): worldly power, royal honor, and martial pride are unstable. Even one who once led consecrated kings can be reduced to helplessness, urging humility and ethical reflection amid the intoxication of victory and status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the pitiable condition of Duryodhana on the battlefield—formerly a foremost leader among kings, now brought low, swallowing dust and grass—highlighting the dramatic reversal of fortune in the Kurukṣetra war.