Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

अथ प्रविश्य तद्‌ वेश्म धृष्टद्युम्नस्थ भारत

Transliteration

atha praviśya tad veśma dhṛṣṭadyumnastha bhārata

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, O Bhārata, having entered that dwelling where Dhṛṣṭadyumna was stationed, (he proceeded further in the course of the night’s grim deed).

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• वेश्म: house, dwelling
• वेश्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• धृष्टद्युम्नस्थ: O one stationed at/with Dhrishtadyumna
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न-स्थ
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra as addressee)
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• veśma (dwelling/chamber)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a narrative hinge highlighting the moral darkness of the Sauptika episode: entry into a sleeping warrior’s quarters signals violence carried out without open battle, underscoring how vengeance can drive actions away from kṣatriya-dharma and toward adharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the assailant(s) enter the dwelling where Dhṛṣṭadyumna is located, marking the approach to the climactic act of the night raid in which key Pāṇḍava-aligned figures are attacked while off-guard.