Shloka 69

Gadāyuddhe Kṛṣṇopadeśaḥ (Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel in the Mace-Duel) — Śalya-parva 57

Devanagari script

ततः परानाविशदुत्तमं भयं समीक्ष्य भूमौ पतितं नरोत्तमम्‌ | अहीयमानं च बलेन कौरवं निशाम्य भेदं सुदृढस्य वर्मण:

Transliteration

tataḥ parān āviśad uttamaṁ bhayaṁ samīkṣya bhūmau patitaṁ narottamam | ahīyamānaṁ ca balena kauravaṁ niśāmya bhedaṁ sudṛḍhasya varmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。すると敵陣にはこの上ない恐怖が入り込んだ。人中の最勝者が地に倒れ伏すのを見たからである。しかも、あの堅固な鎧が破られた後でさえ、クル王の力が衰えぬのを目の当たりにして、恐れはいよいよ深まった。戦の道義が漂うその場において、猛き勇士が倒れ、しかも相手の王が微動だにしない光景は、戦場の運命がいかに速やかに転ずるかを人々に思い知らせ、戦慄と不安を増し加えた。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'thereupon/from that')

• परान्: the others/enemies
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आविशत्: entered/seized
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उत्तमम्: great/supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समीक्ष्य: having seen/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईक्ष्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), indeclinable

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• पतितम्: fallen
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नर-उत्तमम्: the best of men
• नर-उत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अहीयमानम्: not diminishing/undiminished
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-हीयमान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular (present passive participle of √हा 'to diminish' with negation)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कौरवम्: the Kaurava (Duryodhana)
• कौरवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: कौरव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निशाम्य: having noticed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम्/नि-शाम् (नि-शम्: to observe/notice)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), indeclinable

• भेदम्: a breach/splitting
• भेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सुदृढस्य: of the very firm
• सुदृढस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदृढ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• वर्मणः: of the armor
• वर्मणः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (implied by context as narottama fallen and armour breached)
• Duryodhana (as Kaurava whose strength is not diminishing)
• Kauravas
• enemies/opponents (parāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the volatility of battlefield fortune and the psychological dimension of dharma-yuddha: morale can collapse when a champion falls, and fear spreads when an opponent appears undiminished despite damage inflicted.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the opposing ranks are gripped by intense fear upon seeing a foremost warrior fallen on the ground and noticing that the Kaurava leader’s strength does not wane even after his firm armour has been breached.