Shloka 53

Devanagari script

ततः प्रतिचिकीर्षन्तमपसव्यं तु ते सुतम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ praticikīrṣantam apasavyaṃ tu te sutam

Translation

Sanjaya said: Then, as your son was about to act—turning to the left in an inauspicious, contrary manner—events moved toward a grim turn, suggesting a deliberate choice that defied the proper course amid the moral strain of war.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• प्रतिचिकीर्षन्तम्: wishing/intending to do in return; desiring to retaliate
• प्रतिचिकीर्षन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-चिकीर्ष् (चिकीर्षति इति धातोः इच्छार्थक-देशिदेरिवेटिव)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• अपसव्यम्: to the left; counterclockwise; inauspiciously
• अपसव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपसव्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (विशेषणम्)

• तु: but; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: अव्यय

• ते: your; of you
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचनम् (सम्बन्धे)

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• your son (Duryodhana, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse hints that intention and orientation matter ethically: choosing an 'apasavya' (contrary/inauspicious) course symbolizes acting against the proper order (dharma), especially in the charged setting of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that his son is about to undertake an action described as 'apasavya'—a leftward/inauspicious, contrary movement—foreshadowing a problematic or unrighteous turn in the unfolding battle events.