Shloka 1

द्रोणानीकाभिमुखगमनम्

Abhimanyu advances toward Droṇa’s host

Devanagari script

पम्प बछ। अंक पजञ्चत्रिशो<ड्ध्याय: युधिष्ठटिर और अभिमन्युका संवाद तथा व्यूहभेदनके लिये अभिमन्युकी प्रतिज्ञा संजय उवाच तदनीकमनाधृुष्यं भारद्वाजेन रक्षितम्‌ | पार्था: समभ्यवर्तन्त भीमसेनपुरोगमा:,संजय कहते हैं--राजन! द्रोणाचार्यके द्वारा सुरक्षित उस दुर्धर्ष सेनाका भीमसेन आदि कुन्तीपुत्रोंने डटकर सामना किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tad anīkam anādṛṣyaṁ bhāradvājena rakṣitam | pārthāḥ samabhyavartanta bhīmasena-purogamāḥ ||

Translation

Sanjaya said: O King, the sons of Pṛthā, led by Bhīmasena, advanced resolutely to confront that formidable battle-array which was hard to assail and was being protected by Droṇa, the son of Bharadvāja. The verse highlights steadfast courage and collective duty in the face of a well-guarded enemy formation.

Word by Word

• {'sañjaya uvāca': 'Sanjaya said', 'tad': 'that', 'anīkam': 'army

• military formation', 'anādṛṣyam (anādhṛṣyam)': 'unassailable

• hard to overpower', 'bhāradvājena': 'by the son of Bharadvāja (Droṇa)', 'rakṣitam': 'protected

• guarded', 'pārthāḥ': 'the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas)', 'samabhyavartanta': 'advanced toward

• moved to engage', 'bhīmasena-purogamāḥ': 'with Bhīmasena in the forefront

• led by Bhīma', 'rājan': 'O King (address to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied in context)'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Droṇa (Bhāradvāja)
• Bharadvāja
• Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pṛthā)
• Bhīmasena

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma: facing a powerful, well-defended enemy without retreat, relying on disciplined leadership (Bhīma at the front) and collective resolve. Ethical emphasis lies in steadfastness and duty amid danger rather than fear-driven avoidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas, with Bhīma leading, advance to engage the formidable Kaurava force arranged and guarded under Droṇa’s protection, setting the stage for intense fighting around strategic formations.