Shloka 41

Droṇa’s Rebuke to Duryodhana after Jayadratha’s Fall (द्रोणेन दुर्योधनं प्रति प्रत्युक्तिः)

Devanagari script

तमायान्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य तव पुत्र महामृथे

Transliteration

tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya tava putra mahāmṛdhe

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing your son approaching in the midst of that great clash of arms, (the warriors reacted accordingly). The line underscores how, in war, the mere sight of a principal figure—especially the king’s heir—can shift resolve, fear, and strategy, reminding the listener that personal bonds and political stakes intensify the ethical weight of battlefield choices.

Word by Word

तम्him

आयान्तम्coming, approaching

अभिप्रेक्ष्यhaving looked at, seeing

तवyour

पुत्रःson

महामृथेin the great battle

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'your')

Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son (Duryodhana implied)

battlefield (mahāmṛdha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how perception on the battlefield—especially the sight of a key leader—can alter morale and decisions. It implicitly points to the ethical burden of leadership: a ruler’s family and status magnify the consequences of choices made in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that his son is seen approaching amid a fierce battle. This sets up the next action or reaction of the surrounding warriors as the situation shifts with the arrival of an important figure.