Shloka 22

द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः

Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry

Devanagari script

धेष्टकेतुस्तु चेदीनामृषभो5तिबलोदित:

Transliteration

Dheṣṭaketus tu cedīnām ṛṣabho ’tibalo dyutiḥ.

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。チェーディの戦士たちの中で群れを率いる雄牛のごときデーシュタケートゥは、並外れた力と輝く武勇を備え、その戦列においてひときわ目立っていた。彼の剛力と軍容の華やぎが、それを示していた。

Word by Word

• धृष्टकेतुः: Dhṛṣṭaketu (a proper name)
• धृष्टकेतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टकेतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• चेदीनाम्: of the Cedis
• चेदीनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेदी
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• ऋषभः: bull; best/foremost
• ऋषभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिबलः: very strong
• अतिबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उदितः: risen/appeared
• उदितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dheṣṭaketu
• Cedi (people/kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of recognized excellence in battle—strength, leadership, and conspicuous presence—showing how epic narrative praises martial virtue while situating it within the larger, morally complex war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing notable fighters on the battlefield; here he singles out Dheṣṭaketu as the foremost among the Cedi forces, emphasizing his exceptional strength and splendor as the battle unfolds.