Shloka 117

Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout

Devanagari script

मध्यदेशे नरानन्यांश्रिच्छेदान्यांक्ष कर्णत:

Transliteration

madhyadeśe narān anyān śiraśchedān yāṃś ca karṇataḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the central region, he caused the beheading of some men, and of others he cut off their ears—depicting the ruthless, indiscriminate violence that overtakes warriors when dharma collapses amid night-time slaughter.

Word by Word

• मध्यदेशे: in the middle region
• मध्यदेशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यदेश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• नरान्: men
• नरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• छेदान्: cuttings; severings
• छेदान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छेद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• याम्: went
• याम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अक्ष: axle; eye (ambiguous here)
• अक्ष: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्णतः: from the ear
• कर्णतः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Madhyadeśa (central region)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how, when restraint and dharma are abandoned in war—especially in a nocturnal assault—violence becomes indiscriminate and degrading, turning human beings into targets for mutilation rather than opponents in a righteous battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports acts of brutal killing and mutilation occurring in the central area of the camp/battlefield: some are beheaded, while others have their ears cut off, conveying the terror and lawlessness of the Sauptika episode.