Shloka 15

Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption

Devanagari script

पाण्डवा द्रौपदेयाश्न विराटश्न॒ समीक्ष्य तम्‌

Transliteration

pāṇḍavā draupadeyāś ca virāṭaś ca samīkṣya tam

Translation

Sañjaya said: The Pāṇḍavas, along with Draupadī’s sons and King Virāṭa, having carefully observed him, assessed the situation before them—an act of prudent discernment amid the pressures of war.

Word by Word

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्रौपदेयाः: the sons of Draupadi
• द्रौपदेयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विराटाः: the Viratas (men of Virata/king Virata's side)
• विराटाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• समीक्ष्य: having looked at / having observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• तम्: him / that one
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍavas
• Draupadeyas (sons of Draupadī)
• Virāṭa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the urgency of battle, responsible leaders first observe and assess (samīkṣya) before acting; discernment and coordinated judgment are essential to righteous and effective conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍavas, together with Draupadī’s sons and their ally King Virāṭa, carefully look at a particular person/opponent and evaluate him, indicating a moment of tactical appraisal in the Drona Parva battle account.