Shloka 14

द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः

Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry

Devanagari script

त॑ विराटो<न्वयाच्छीघ्रं सह सर्वर्महारथै: । केकयाश्र शिखण्डी च धृष्टकेतुस्तथैव च

Transliteration

tato virāṭo 'nvayāc chīghraṃ saha sarvair mahārathaiḥ | kekayāś ca śikhaṇḍī ca dhṛṣṭaketuś tathaiva ca ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Virāṭa quickly advanced, accompanied by all the great chariot-warriors; the Kekayas too moved forward, and Śikhaṇḍī, and likewise Dhṛṣṭaketu. The narration underscores the swift, coordinated mobilization of allied leaders in the midst of battle, where loyalty to one’s side and readiness to act become decisive ethical pressures in a dharma-conflicted war.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (him/it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विराटः: Virāṭa
• विराटः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्वयात्: followed / went after
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-या
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• महारथैः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• केकयाः: the Kekayas
• केकयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शिखण्डी: Śikhaṇḍī
• शिखण्डी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• धृष्टकेतुः: Dhṛṣṭaketu
• धृष्टकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Virāṭa
• Mahārathas
• Kekayas
• Śikhaṇḍī
• Dhṛṣṭaketu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of collective responsibility in war: leaders and allied champions must act decisively and in coordination, reflecting kṣatriya-duty and loyalty amid a morally complex conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that King Virāṭa swiftly advances in battle along with the elite chariot-warriors; the Kekaya contingent, Śikhaṇḍī, and Dhṛṣṭaketu also move forward, indicating a coordinated push by Pāṇḍava-aligned forces.