Shloka 1

Devanagari script

अपना बछ। है २ >> (अभिमन्युवधपर्व) त्रयस्त्रिंशो&ध्याय: दुर्योधनका उपालम्भ, द्रोणाचार्यकी प्रतिज्ञा और अभिमन्युवधके वृत्तान्तका संक्षेपसे वर्णन संजय उवाच पूर्वमस्मासु भग्नेषु फाल्गुनेनामितौजसा । द्रोणे च मोघसंकल्पे रक्षिते च युधिष्िरे,संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! जब अमित तेजस्वी अर्जुनने पहले ही हम सब लोगोंको भगा दिया, द्रोणाचार्यका संकल्प व्यर्थ हो गया तथा राजा युधिष्ठिर सर्वथा सुरक्षित रह गये, तब आपके समस्त सैनिक द्रोणाचार्यकी सम्मतिसे युद्ध बंद करके भयसे अत्यन्त उद्विग्न हो दसों दिशाओंकी ओर देखते हुए शिविरकी ओर चल दिये। वे सब-के-सब युद्धमें पराजित होकर धूलमें भर गये थे। उनके कवच छित्न-भिन्न हो गये थे तथा कभी न चूकनेवाले अर्जुनके बाणोंसे विदीर्ण होकर वे रणक्षेत्रमें अत्यन्त उपहासके पात्र बन गये

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | pūrvam asmāsu bhagneṣu phālgunenāmitaujasā | droṇe ca moghasaṅkalpe rakṣite ca yudhiṣṭhire ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, when earlier we had been routed by Phālguna (Arjuna) of immeasurable prowess, when Droṇa’s resolve had come to nothing, and when Yudhiṣṭhira had been kept fully protected, then the tide of battle turned against your side. The verse frames a moral and strategic reversal: despite a commander’s vow and the might of an army, righteous protection and superior skill can render aggressive intent fruitless, exposing the fragility of pride and the limits of force in war.

Word by Word

संजयःSanjaya

उवाचsaid

पूर्वम्formerly / earlier

अस्मासुamong us / with respect to us

भग्नेषुwhen (we were) defeated / broken

फाल्गुनेनby Phalguna (Arjuna)

अमितौजसाof immeasurable vigor

द्रोणेwhen/while Drona (was present/concerned)

चand

मोघसंकल्पेwhose resolve was futile

रक्षितेwhen (he was) protected / guarded

चand

युधिष्ठिरेwhen/while Yudhishthira (was ...)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Duryodhana

Arjuna (Phālguna)

Droṇācārya (Droṇa)

Yudhiṣṭhira

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 the ethical and practical limits of mere force and vows in war: even a great commander’s determination can become futile when opposed by superior skill and when the protected cause (here, Yudhiṣṭhira’s safety) is upheld. It cautions against overconfidence and underscores that outcomes depend on more than intent—on capability, circumstance, and the moral-psychological balance of the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Duryodhana that the Kaurava forces had already been driven back by Arjuna; Droṇa’s plan did not succeed; and Yudhiṣṭhira remained secure. This sets the scene for the ensuing developments in the Abhimanyu episode by emphasizing the Kauravas’ setback and the frustration of their leadership’s objectives.