Mahabharata 7.33.3 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 33, Shloka 3

Abhimanyu-śravaṇa-prastāva and Cakravyūha-vinyāsa

Prelude to Abhimanyu’s Account and the Wheel-Formation Deployment

Devanagari script

अवहारं ततः कृत्वा भारद्वाजस्य सम्मते | लब्धलक्ष्यै: शरैर्भिन्ना भूशावहसिता रणे

Transliteration

avahāraṁ tataḥ kṛtvā bhāradvājasya sammate | labdhalakṣyaiḥ śarair bhinnā bhūśāvahasitā raṇe ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「それから、バーラドヴァージャ（ドローナ）の意に従い、彼らは退却した。的を得た矢に裂かれ貫かれて、戦場では嘲りの的となり、塵にまみれて倒れ伏した。」

Word by Word

• अवहारम्: withdrawal, retreat
• अवहारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवहार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, Non-finite

• भारद्वाजस्य: of Bhāradvāja (Droṇa)
• भारद्वाजस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सम्मते: with the approval/consent
• सम्मते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्मत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• लब्धलक्ष्यैः: by (arrows) that have found their mark
• लब्धलक्ष्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्धलक्ष्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: by arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भिन्नाः: split, broken, shattered
• भिन्नाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भूशावहसिताः: made a laughing-stock on the ground (in dust)
• भूशावहसिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूशावहसित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhāradvāja (Droṇa)
• arrows (śara)
• battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical reality of war: when strategy fails and losses mount, even proud warriors must accept withdrawal under a commander’s counsel. It underscores accountability in leadership (acting ‘in accordance with Droṇa’s judgment’) and the sobering consequence of violence—public disgrace and bodily ruin follow from martial defeat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the troops, following Droṇa’s decision, pull back from the fight. They have been struck by accurately aimed arrows and are left dust-covered and mocked on the battlefield—an image of a routed force after a punishing engagement.