Mahabharata 7.116.10 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 10

Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)

Devanagari script

बहुभि: पार्थिवैर्गुप्तमस्मत्प्रियचिकीर्षुभि: । अस्मानभिसृतै: कामात्‌ सबलै: सपदानुगै:

Transliteration

bahubhiḥ pārthivair guptam asmat-priya-cikīrṣubhiḥ | asmān abhisṛtaiḥ kāmāt sa-balaiḥ sa-padānugaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Bala ini dilindungi oleh banyak raja yang berhasrat melakukan apa yang menyenangkan kami. Mereka maju mendekati kami semata karena dorongan kehendak—datang dengan pasukan mereka dan para pengikut yang menapak rapat di belakang.”

Word by Word

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पार्थिवैः: by kings
• पार्थिवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गुप्तम्: guarded/protected
• गुप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अस्मत्: of us/our
• अस्मत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• प्रिय: what is dear (to us)
• प्रिय: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चिकीर्षुभिः: by those wishing to do (it)
• चिकीर्षुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकीर्षु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Plural

• अभिसृतैः: by those who have approached/advanced
• अभिसृतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिसृत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कामात्: out of desire/at will
• कामात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सबलैः: with forces/with troops
• सबलैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सबल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सपदानुगैः: with followers/attendants (those who go after their steps)
• सपदानुगैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-पदानुग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• पार्थिव (kings/rulers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how kāma (desire/impulse) can become a primary driver of action in war: even ‘service’ to one’s side (doing what is pleasing) may mask passion-driven aggression. Ethically, it invites scrutiny of motives—whether loyalty is guided by discernment or by desire.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a group, shielded by many kings intent on pleasing ‘us’ (the Kaurava side), advanced upon the opposing party with their troops and attendants. It depicts a coordinated approach/assault under strong protection and support.