Shloka 11

Devanagari script

तान्‌ दृष्टवा द्रवत:सर्वान्‌ धार्तराष्ट्रानू पराड्मुखान्‌

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā dravataḥ sarvān dhārtarāṣṭrān parāṅmukhān

Translation

Voyant tous les fils de Dhṛtarāṣṭra s’enfuir en hâte, le visage détourné, Vaiśampāyana décrit l’instant comme un renversement soudain : la peur et la perte de résolution étouffent l’orgueil, et les conséquences des choix passés commencent à se montrer dans la fuite plutôt que dans la constance.

Word by Word

• तान्: those (men)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• द्रवत: running, fleeing
• द्रवत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra / the Kauravas
• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पराङ्मुखान्: turned away, facing backward
• पराङ्मुखान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Dhārtarāṣṭras (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how inner disposition determines outward action: when courage and dharma-based resolve collapse, one turns away and flees. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness with retreat born of fear, suggesting that earlier adharma or arrogance can culminate in loss of morale at critical moments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that the Dhārtarāṣṭras are seen running away, turned back from the confrontation. The scene marks a shift in momentum—those aligned with Dhṛtarāṣṭra are in retreat rather than advancing.