Shloka 130

Devanagari script

तान्‌ प्रभग्नांस्ततो द्रोणि: पृष्ठठो विकिरन्‌ शरान्‌

Transliteration

tān prabhagnāṁs tato droṇiḥ pṛṣṭhato vikirañ śarān

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。ついでドローニは、彼らが潰走するのを見るや、背後から矢を雨のごとく散らし、逃げる者を追い立てて退却の恐慌をいよいよ深めた。この場面は、戦において陣形が崩れれば容赦なき追撃を招き、恐れは武器よりも速く規律をほどくことを示している。

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रभग्नान्: routed, broken, scattered
• प्रभग्नान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-भञ्ज् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ततः: then; from there/thereupon
• ततः: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• द्रोणिः: Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रोणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणि (द्रोणि-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृष्ठतः: from behind, at the rear
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतः

• विकिरन्: scattering, showering
• विकिरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-कॄ (शतृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
• arrows (śarāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a practical ethical lesson of warfare: once a force loses cohesion and turns to flight, it becomes vulnerable to pursuit. It implicitly warns that fear and disorder can magnify harm, whereas steadiness and disciplined retreat (or steadfast stand) better protect lives and honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇi (Aśvatthāmā) attacks the routed warriors from the rear, showering arrows as they flee. It depicts a moment of pursuit after a break in the opposing ranks.