Shloka 3

Devanagari script

तांस्तु शूरान्‌ महेष्वासान्‌ क्रूरं कर्म चिकीर्षत: । दृष्टवा दुर्योधनस्तूर्ण स्वसैन्यं समचूचुदत्‌,उन महाथनुर्थधर शूरवीरोंको क्रूर कर्म करनेके लिये उत्सुक देख दुर्योधनने तुरंत ही अपनी सेनाको इस प्रकार आज्ञा दी--

Transliteration

tāṁs tu śūrān maheṣvāsān krūraṁ karma cikīrṣataḥ | dṛṣṭvā duryodhanas tūrṇaṁ svasainyaṁ samacūcudat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing those heroic, great-bowed warriors eager to undertake a ruthless deed, Duryodhana at once issued orders to his own army. The moment underscores how, in the heat of war, resolve can harden into cruelty, and leadership may choose expediency over restraint.

Word by Word

तान्those (men)

तुbut/indeed

शूरान्heroes, brave men

महेष्वासान्great bowmen

क्रूरम्cruel, fierce

कर्मdeed, act

चिकीर्षतःwishing/desiring to do

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

तूर्णम्quickly, at once

स्वसैन्यम्his own army

समचूचुदत्urged on, incited, commanded

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Duryodhana

Kaurava army

heroic great-archer warriors (unnamed)

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 a moral tension in warfare: when warriors become intent on a 'krūra karma' (ruthless act), a leader’s immediate response—here, Duryodhana’s swift command—can either restrain violence or accelerate it. It invites reflection on responsibility and ethical limits even amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana observes his formidable archers and heroes ready to carry out a harsh action, and he promptly issues instructions to his own troops, setting the Kaurava side in motion for the next tactical step.