Shloka 8

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Bereavement and the Averted Assault on Bhīma (Āyasī Pratimā Episode)

Devanagari script

नहि वशस्रिद्धि शूराणां युद्धायमान: पराड्मुख: । शस्त्रेण निधन प्राप्तो न च कश्चित्‌ कृताञ्जलि:,“उन शूरवीरोंमेंसे कोई भी युद्ध करते समय पीठ नहीं दिखा सका है। किसीने भी शत्रुके सामने हाथ नहीं जोड़े हैं। सभी शस्त्रके द्वारा मारे गये हैं

Transliteration

nahi vaśasr̥ddhi śūrāṇāṃ yuddhāyamānaḥ parāṅmukhaḥ | śastreṇa nidhanaṃ prāpto na ca kaścit kṛtāñjaliḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: None among those heroes, while engaged in battle, turned his back in flight. Nor did any clasp his hands in supplication before the enemy. Each met his end by weapons—falling as warriors, not as men seeking mercy.

Word by Word

नnot

हिindeed/for

वशसिद्धिःsuccess by (mere) submission/being under control

शूराणाम्of the heroes

युद्धायमानःfighting/engaged in battle

पराङ्मुखःone who has turned his face away; turned back (in flight)

शस्त्रेणby a weapon/with weapons

निधनम्death/destruction

प्राप्तःhaving obtained/reached (met with)

नnot

चand

कश्चित्anyone/someone

कृताञ्जलिःwith hands joined (in supplication)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

śastra (weapons)

śūrāḥ (heroes/warriors)

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 upholds the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness: true warriors do not turn their backs in fear or seek mercy from the enemy; they accept the consequences of battle, even death, with honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the aftermath of the great slaughter, Vaiśaṃpāyana characterizes the fallen as having fought to the end—none fled or pleaded—framing their deaths as the outcome of direct combat.