Shloka 216

उपायैः पूर्ववधकथनम् / Strategic Justifications for Prior Eliminations

Devanagari script

द्रोणस्प च महाराज सृञ्जयानां च सर्वश: । महाराज! तत्पश्चात्‌ संध्याकालमें समस्त सूंजयवीरों तथा द्रोणाचार्यका अत्यन्त दारुण संग्राम होने लगा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | droṇasya ca mahārāja sṛñjayānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | mahārāja! tatpaścāt sandhyākāle samasta-sṛñjayavīrāṇāṃ tathā droṇācāryasya atyanta-dāruṇaḥ saṃgrāmo 'bhavat |

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。王よ、そののち四方にわたり、ドローナとスリンジャヤの勇士たちとのあいだに、まことに凄絶な戦が起こった。さらに黄昏の刻、スリンジャヤの全軍の英雄たちとドローナーチャールヤは、きわめて激烈な交戦に絡み合った――日が傾くほどに、義務と忠誠の葛藤は戦禍のただ中でいよいよ強まるのである。

Word by Word

• द्रोणस्य: of Droṇa
• द्रोणस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सृञ्जयानाम्: of the Sṛñjayas
• सृञ्जयानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृञ्जय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वशः: entirely; in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Sṛñjaya warriors

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim escalation of war: even as daylight fades, the momentum of conflict continues, suggesting how vows, loyalties, and perceived duty can drive warriors beyond natural limits—inviting reflection on the ethical cost of steadfastness when it serves destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, after preceding events, a very fierce battle breaks out on all sides between Droṇa and the Sṛñjaya forces, specifically intensifying at twilight (sandhyā).