Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अवधीच्च रथानीकं द्विरदानां च तद्‌ बलम्‌

Transliteration

avadhīc ca rathānīkaṃ dviradānāṃ ca tad balam

Translation

Sanjaya said: He cut down the chariot-division, and that force of elephants as well—thus further breaking the enemy’s organized strength in the midst of battle.

Word by Word

• अवधीत्: slew, killed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वध्
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), 3, Singular, परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• रथानीकम्: the chariot-division (chariot corps)
• रथानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथानीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्विरदानाम्: of the elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरद
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तत्: that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बलम्: force, army
• बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• rathānīka (chariot contingent)
• dvirada (elephant force)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how organized military power (formations of chariots and elephants) can be shattered by decisive action; ethically, it reflects the grim reality of kṣatriya warfare where prowess and duty operate within a tragic economy of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that the warrior in focus destroys both a chariot contingent and an elephant corps, indicating a significant tactical blow to the opposing army’s strength during the fighting in Droṇa Parva.