Shloka 8

Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya

Devanagari script

तद्‌ दृष्टवा चरितं तस्य सिंहविक्रान्तगामिन: । त्रिगर्ता: संन्यवर्तन्त संतप्ता: स्वजनं प्रति,सिंहके समान पराक्रमसूचक गतिसे चलनेवाले सात्यकिके उस चरित्रको देखकर त्रिगर्तदेशीय योद्धा अपने स्वजनोंके लिये शोक-संताप करते हुए पीछे लौट गये

Transliteration

tad dṛṣṭvā caritaṃ tasya siṃha-vikrānta-gāminaḥ | trigartāḥ saṃnyavartanta santaptāḥ svajanaṃ prati ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing his conduct—he who moved forward with the lion-like stride of a fearless warrior—the Trigarta fighters turned back, burning with grief and anguish for their own kinsmen.

Word by Word

तत्that

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

चरितम्deed, conduct, exploit

तस्यof him

सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनःof the one who moves with lion-like stride

त्रिगर्ताःthe Trigartas

संन्यवर्तन्तturned back, retreated

संतप्ताःafflicted, distressed

स्वजनम्their own people/kinsmen

प्रतिtowards, with regard to

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Trigartas

Sātyaki (implied by context)

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 extraordinary valor and disciplined conduct in battle can break an opponent’s resolve, while also underscoring the ethical cost of war: warriors are driven not only by courage but also by sorrow for their own kin who suffer due to the conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

After witnessing the lion-like advance and deeds of the hero (contextually Sātyaki), the Trigarta warriors lose heart and withdraw, distressed about the fate of their own people amid the fighting.