Shloka 12

Devanagari script

ततः प्रववृते युद्धे श्रान्‍्नवाहनसैनिकम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhe śrānnavāhanasainikam

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, as the battle surged forward, the fighting spread through the ranks of weary soldiers and their mounts, drawing men and vehicles alike into the grinding press of war—an image of conflict that consumes not only warriors but also the very means that carry them.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereupon/then
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereupon')

• प्रववृते: began/ensued
• प्रववृते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वृत् (वर्तते)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person singular

• युद्धे: in the battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, locative, singular

• श्रान्त: wearied/exhausted
• श्रान्त: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (√श्रम्)
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• वाहन: mount/vehicle
• वाहन: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• सैनिकम्: soldier/warrior
• सैनिकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैनिक
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• yuddha (the battle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the consuming nature of war: once it is set in motion, it draws in not only combatants but also their supports (mounts, vehicles), highlighting the ethical cost and widespread suffering that accompany armed conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that the battle has fully commenced and intensified, involving weary soldiers and their mounts/vehicles—signaling a prolonged, exhausting phase of fighting in the Drona Parva context.