Shloka 11

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

सादिनो ध्वजिनश्लवैव हता: प्रवरवाजिन: । विप्रद्रुतरथानीका: समपद्यन्त पाण्डवा:,घुड़सवार, ध्वजा धारण करनेवाले सैनिक तथा उत्तम घोड़े मारे गये। पाण्डवोंकी रथ- सेना पलायन करने लगी

Transliteration

sādino dhvajinaś caiva hatāḥ pravaravājinaḥ | vipradrutarathānīkāḥ samapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。――騎兵も旗持ちも討たれ、最上の馬までもが斃れた。戦車隊の陣形は乱され、追い立てられて潰走し、パーンダヴァ軍はたちまち無秩序に陥った。要の支え（騎兵・旗・精鋭の馬）が断たれれば、戦の趨勢がいかに速く転ずるかを示すものである。

Word by Word

सादिनःhorsemen, riders

ध्वजिनःstandard-bearers, those with banners

चand

एवindeed, just

हताःkilled, slain

प्रवरवाजिनःexcellent horses

विप्रद्रुतhaving fled in haste, routed

रथानीकाःchariot-formations, chariot-troops

समपद्यन्तfell into (that state), came to be, became

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Pāṇḍavas

horsemen (cavalry)

standard-bearers (flags/banners)

excellent horses

chariot-formations (ratha-anīka)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the instability of worldly power in war: when crucial supports—elite horses, cavalry, and standard-bearers that sustain morale and cohesion—are destroyed, even a strong force can quickly lose formation and confidence. It implicitly points to the ethical gravity of battle (kṣatriya-dharma) and the need for steadiness amid reversals.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that horsemen and flag-bearers have been killed and the best horses slain. As a result, the Pāṇḍavas’ chariot divisions are driven into flight and their army falls into disarray, indicating a moment of tactical setback and collapsing formation.