Shloka 166

Abhimanyu’s Śrāddha; Vyāsa’s Assurance of the Unborn Heir (अभिमन्योः श्राद्धं तथा गर्भरक्षणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

न पृष्ठतः कृतश्नापि संग्रामस्तेन दुस्तर: । “पिताजी! अभिमन्युने संग्राममें आगे रहकर शत्रुओंका सामना किया। उसने कभी भी अपना मुख विकृत नहीं किया। उस दुस्तर युद्धमें उसने कभी पीठ नहीं दिखायी

Transliteration

na pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtaśnāpi saṅgrāmas tena dustaraḥ |

Translation

ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಆ ದುಸ್ತರ ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಅವನು ಹಿಂದೆ ನಿಂತು ಹೋರಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲ; ಅವನಿಂದಲೇ ಆ ಸಮರ ಇನ್ನೂ ಕಠಿಣವಾಯಿತು. ಅವನು ಮುಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲೇ ನಿಂತು ಶತ್ರುಗಳನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸಿದನು; ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಬೆನ್ನು ತೋರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

Word by Word

नnot

पृष्ठतःfrom behind; turning the back

कृतश्नाone who has done a (back-)turning; turning back (i.e., showing the back)

अपिeven; also

संग्रामःbattle

तेनby him; by that (person)

दुस्तरःhard to cross; difficult to overcome

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting danger face-to-face: true valor is shown by not turning one’s back in battle, maintaining honor and resolve even in a nearly insurmountable conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a warrior’s conduct in a fierce battle, emphasizing that he did not fight from the rear or retreat; his steadfast front-facing engagement made the battle especially formidable.