Shloka 27

Devanagari script

महेन्द्रसमवीर्येण वध्यमाना महाचमू:

Transliteration

mahendrasamavīryeṇa vadhyamānā mahācamūḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: The great host, being struck down by one whose prowess equaled that of Indra, began to suffer heavy destruction—an image of war’s overwhelming force where even vast armies falter before extraordinary valor.

Word by Word

• महेन्द्र-सम-वीर्येण: by/with strength equal to Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्र-सम-वीर्येण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्रसमवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वध्यमाना: being slain / being struck down
• वध्यमाना: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध् (धातु) + य (यत्/यक्) + मान (शानच्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• महाचमूः: the great army
• महाचमूः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाचमू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• महेन्द्र/इन्द्र (Mahendra/Indra)
• महाचमू (great army/host)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how immense collective power (a vast army) can be undone by exceptional prowess, reminding readers that in war the outcomes often hinge on concentrated skill and destiny—raising ethical reflection on the fragility of life and the cost of martial glory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where a mighty force is being cut down by a warrior likened in strength to Indra, emphasizing the scale of slaughter and the dominance of a single extraordinary combatant over a large host.