Shloka 39

भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः

Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā

Devanagari script

अदृष्टवा तु रथानीके दुर्योधनमरिंदमम्‌

Transliteration

adṛṣṭvā tu rathānīke duryodhanam ariṃdamam

Translation

Sañjaya said: But when they did not see Duryodhana—the tamer of foes—within the battle-array of chariots, a grave unease arose, for in war the absence of the leader signals disorder, shaken morale, and the ethical peril of an army driven more by fear and impulse than by disciplined duty.

Word by Word

• अदृष्ट्वा: not having seen / without seeing
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भावार्थ (non-finite)

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रथानीके: in the chariot-division / in the chariot-array
• रथानीके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथानीक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दुर्योधनम्: Duryodhana (acc.)
• दुर्योधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अरिंदमम्: the foe-subduer (epithet of Duryodhana)
• अरिंदमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• rathānīka (chariot-formation/battle-array)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and practical importance of leadership in war: when the commander is missing, discipline and right conduct (dharma as ordered duty) can collapse into confusion, fear, and rash action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana is not visible in the chariot-formation; this absence becomes a significant battlefield sign, implying disruption in the Kaurava ranks and prompting concern about what has happened to their leader.