Mahabharata 7.127.49 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 127, Shloka 49

दुर्योधन-कर्ण-संवादः

Duryodhana–Karna Dialogue on Vyūha-bheda and Daiva

Devanagari script

ते वध्यमाना द्रोणेन शक्रेणेव महासुरा: । समकम्पन्त पड्चाला गाव: शीतार्दिता इव

Transliteration

te vadhyamānā droṇena śakreṇeva mahāsurāḥ | samakampanta pāñcālā gāvaḥ śītārditā iva ||

Translation

Dihantam oleh serangan Droṇa, para prajurit Pāñcāla gemetar—laksana para Asura besar yang terguncang oleh pukulan Indra, dan laksana kawanan sapi yang menggigil ketika disergap dingin musim.

Word by Word

• ते: they (those)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वध्यमानाः: being slain/struck down
• वध्यमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्यमान (√वध्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्रोणेन: by Droṇa
• द्रोणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• शक्रेण: by Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• इव: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• महासुराः: great asuras (demons)
• महासुराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समकम्पन्त: trembled violently
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√कम्प्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पाञ्चालाः: the Pāñcālas
• पाञ्चालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शीतार्दिताः: afflicted by cold
• शीतार्दिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतार्दित (शीत+आर्दित, √अर्द्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• इव: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Mahāsuras
• Pāñcālas
• cattle (gāvaḥ)
• winter/cold (śīta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how overwhelming martial power can break morale: Droṇa’s onslaught causes even seasoned fighters to tremble, illustrating the ethical gravity and psychological cost of war alongside the warrior’s duty to fight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Droṇa attacking the Pāñcāla forces; pierced and pressed hard by his arrows, they shake with fear and pain, compared to Asuras struck by Indra and cattle shivering in winter.