Shloka 10

Devanagari script

ते प्रेषिता: सुमित्रेण द्रोणानीकाय वाजिन:

Transliteration

te preṣitāḥ sumitreṇa droṇānīkāya vājinaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Sent forth by Sumitra, the horsemen advanced toward Droṇa’s battle-array. The line underscores how, in war, commanders direct swift forces to strike at a chosen formation—an act of duty within one’s side, yet ethically shadowed by the larger violence of the conflict.

Word by Word

• ते: they / those (men)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रेषिताः: sent / dispatched
• प्रेषिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेषित (प्र-इष्/इष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुमित्रेण: by Sumitra
• सुमित्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमित्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• द्रोणानीकाय: to Drona's army/host
• द्रोणानीकाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणानीक
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• वाजिनः: horsemen / riders
• वाजिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sumitra
• Droṇa
• ānīka (battle-array/formation)
• vājinaḥ (horsemen)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined obedience and tactical deployment in battle: swift troops are dispatched to a specific formation. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya-world where duty to command and execute orders operates within the tragic cost of warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Sumitra has ordered a contingent of horsemen to move against Droṇa’s battle-array, indicating a maneuver aimed at engaging or pressuring Droṇa’s forces.