Shloka 82

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

Devanagari script

ऊरुस्तम्भगृहीताश्व कश्मलाभिहतौजस: । विनदन्तो भुशं त्रस्ता: समासीदन्‌ परस्परम्‌,उनकी जाँघें अकड़ गयी थीं। मोहवश उनका बल और उत्साह मारा गया था। वे भयभीत हो जोर-जोरसे चीखते हुए एक-दूसरेसे लिपट जाते थे

Transliteration

ūrūstambha-gṛhītāśva kaśmalābhihataujasaḥ | vinadanto bhuśaṃ trastāḥ samāsīdan parasparam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Their thighs had stiffened as though seized by a cramp, and their horses were as if held fast; delusion had struck down their strength and spirit. Terrified, they cried out loudly and, in panic, drew close to one another, clinging together for safety.

Word by Word

ऊरुस्तम्भगृहीताश्वwhose horses were seized/immobilized by thigh-stiffness

कश्मलाभिहतौजसःwhose vigor was struck down by delusion/confusion

विनदन्तःcrying out, roaring

भृशम्excessively, greatly

त्रस्ताःterrified

समासीदन्they approached/sat down near, came together

परस्परम्mutually, one another

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

horses

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how terror and delusion (kaśmala) can instantly destroy courage and competence, reducing warriors to helplessness; it implicitly warns that violence driven by confusion and adharma breeds panic, collapse, and loss of inner strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s report of the night’s events, the combatants are overwhelmed by fear: their bodies stiffen, their horses seem immobilized, and they cry out and cling to one another, showing a breakdown of martial order amid the nocturnal horror.