Shloka 3

कृपोपदेशः — द्रौणेरनिद्रा च

Kṛpa’s Counsel and Drauṇi’s Sleepless Resolve

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत सौप्तिकपर्वमें अश्वत्थामाकी मन्त्रणाविषयक तीसरा अध्याय पूरा हुआ,अहं त्वामनुयास्यामि कृतवर्मा च सात्वत: । परानभिमुखं यान्तं रथावास्थाय दंशितौ जब तुम शत्रुओंका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़ोगे, उस समय मैं और सात्वतवंशी कृतवर्मा दोनों ही कवच धारण करके रथोंपर आरूढ़ हो तुम्हारे साथ चलेंगे

Transliteration

ahaṃ tvām anuyāsyāmi kṛtavarmā ca sātvatāḥ | parān abhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ rathāv āsthāya daṃśitau ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “When you advance to confront the enemy, I too—and Kṛtavarmā of the Sātvata line—will follow you. Armoured and mounted upon our chariots, we shall go with you as you move to face the opposing host.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'ahaṃ', 'definition': 'I'}, {'term': 'tvām', 'definition': 'you (accusative singular)'}, {'term': 'anuyāsyāmi', 'definition': 'I will follow

• I will go after (future of anu-√yā)'}, {'term': 'kṛtavarmā', 'definition': 'Kṛtavarmā (a Yādava/Sātvata warrior, ally of the Kauravas)'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'sātvatāḥ', 'definition': 'the Sātvata (of the Sātvata/Yādava lineage)

• here referring to Kṛtavarmā as Sātvata'}, {'term': 'parān', 'definition': 'enemies

• the opposing side (accusative plural of para)'}, {'term': 'abhimukham', 'definition': 'towards

• frontally'}, {'term': 'yāntam', 'definition': 'going

• advancing (accusative singular present participle of √yā)'}, {'term': 'rathau', 'definition': 'on chariots

• in chariots (locative dual of ratha)'}, {'term': 'āsthāya', 'definition': 'having mounted

• having taken one’s place upon (absolutive of ā-√sthā)'}, {'term': 'daṃśitau', 'definition': 'armoured

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛtavarmā
• Sātvata (lineage)
• ratha (chariot)
• kavaca (armour, implied by daṃśitau)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds martial loyalty and readiness: companions pledge to follow their leader into danger, fully equipped. Ethically, it highlights the kṣatriya ideal of standing with one’s ally in battle—while also foreshadowing how such loyalty can serve destructive ends in the Sauptika context.

What is happening in the narrative?

A pledge of support is being voiced: as the leader advances to face the enemy, the speaker declares that he and Kṛtavarmā will mount their chariots, don armour, and accompany him to the confrontation.