Shloka 576

धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)

Devanagari script

अचिरेणैव कालेन तं त॑ निधघ्नन्ति पाण्डवा: | मेरे पुत्र युद्धस्थलमें जिस-जिस वीरको अपना सेनापति बनाते थे, पाण्डव उस-उसको थोड़े ही समयमें मार गिराते थे

Transliteration

Acireṇaiva kālena taṃ taṃ nidhaghnanti pāṇḍavāḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: In a very short time, the Pāṇḍavas would strike down each and every warrior whom my sons appointed as their commander on the battlefield. The narration underscores the relentless momentum of fate in war: leadership without righteousness and sound counsel cannot withstand disciplined valor and dharmic resolve.

Word by Word

• अचिरेण: in a short time / quickly
• अचिरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचिर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• कालेन: with time / within time
• कालेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निधघ्नन्ति: they strike down / kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Kauravas (implied as 'my sons')
• senāpati (commander)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that mere appointment of leaders cannot reverse a decline rooted in adharma and poor judgment; in war, effectiveness and moral-spiritual momentum (dharma, discipline, and strategy) can swiftly overcome successive commanders.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that whenever the Kauravas appointed a new commander on the battlefield, the Pāṇḍavas soon killed that commander, showing the rapid turnover and weakening of the Kaurava command structure.