Shloka 4

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ

Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation

Devanagari script

तेषां तु प्रमुखे शूंर सुशर्माणं महाबलम्‌ | मध्ये सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य भृशं संहर्षयन्निव,उन नरेशोंके सम्मुख सारी सेनाके बीचमें शूरवीर महाबली सुशर्माको अत्यन्त हर्ष प्रदान करता हुआ-सा दुर्योधन यों बोला--

Transliteration

teṣāṃ tu pramukhe śūra suśarmāṇaṃ mahābalam | madhye sarvasya sainyasya bhṛśaṃ saṃharṣayann iva sañjaya uvāca |

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the very forefront of those kings stood the mighty hero Suśarmā; and in the midst of the entire host, as though stirring up intense exhilaration and martial ardor, Duryodhana spoke—seeking to rouse his side for the coming clash.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• प्रमुखे: in the front/at the head
• प्रमुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: प्रमुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शूर: O hero
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सुशर्माणम्: Susharman
• सुशर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: सुशर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाबलम्: mighty-strong
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सर्वस्य: of the whole
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• सैन्यस्य: of the army
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• भृशम्: exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• संहर्षयन्: gladdening/causing delight
• संहर्षयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-हृष्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Suśarmā
• Duryodhana
• kings (nareśāḥ)
• army/host (sainya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how leaders deliberately kindle collective morale in war: by placing renowned champions in front and by stirring the army’s ardor, a commander seeks cohesion and courage—an ethically charged reminder that rhetoric and positioning can intensify conflict as well as resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Suśarmā standing prominently among the kings and within the army’s center; then Duryodhana begins speaking, apparently to excite and rally his forces for battle.