Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 20

Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ

Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response

हृष्टाश्ष बहवो योधास्तत्राजल्पन्त वेगत:

hṛṣṭāś ca bahavo yodhās tatrājalpanta vegataḥ

Sañjaya said: There, many warriors, elated at heart, began speaking rapidly and excitedly—an outburst of spirited talk arising from the heat and momentum of battle.

हृष्टाःdelighted, exhilarated
हृष्टाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हृष्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
बहवःmany
बहवः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
योधाःwarriors
योधाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयोध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
अजल्पन्तchattered, spoke (noisily)
अजल्पन्त:
TypeVerb
Root√जल्प्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
वेगतःswiftly, with speed
वेगतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवेग (तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय)

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
W
warriors (yodhāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how strong emotions in war—exhilaration and the rush of momentum—can drive speech and behavior. Ethically, it points to the volatility of the battlefield mind: excitement can amplify impulsiveness, reminding readers that self-control and discernment are easily shaken amid conflict.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, at that moment on the battlefield, many warriors were visibly delighted and began talking rapidly and excitedly, suggesting a surge of confidence or agitation as events in the fighting unfold.