Shloka 16

द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः

Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute

Devanagari script

मा युध्यस्व रणेडथीर विशिष्टे रथिभि: सह

Transliteration

mā yudhyasva raṇe dhīra viśiṣṭe rathibhiḥ saha

Translation

Sanjaya said: “O steadfast one, do not engage in battle in this fight—especially not together with those eminent chariot-warriors.” The line carries a cautionary, ethical urgency: restraint is urged in the face of overwhelming martial prowess, implying that valor must be guided by discernment rather than pride or impulse.

Word by Word

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा
• Form: Prohibitive particle (used with imperative/optative)

• युध्यस्व: fight (for yourself) / engage in battle
• युध्यस्व: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Imperative, 2nd person, singular, Ātmanepada

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, locative, singular

• अधीर: O impatient one / O unsteady one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधीर
• Form: Masculine, vocative, singular

• विशिष्टे: in the distinguished/terrible (battle)
• विशिष्टे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, locative, singular

• रथिभिः: with chariot-warriors
• रथिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथि
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, plural

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह
• Form: Postposition governing instrumental

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• dhīra (addressed person, unnamed in this pāda)
• rathin (chariot-warriors, collective)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes restraint and discernment in warfare: courage (dhairya) should be governed by wise judgment, especially when facing superior or eminent warriors. Ethical action in conflict includes knowing when not to fight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports a warning addressed to a resolute warrior, urging him not to enter combat in that particular encounter—specifically not against (or alongside) a group of distinguished chariot-fighters—indicating a moment of tactical and moral caution amid the Drona Parva battles.