Mahabharata 7.13.18 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 18

Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)

Devanagari script

ततो व्यूढान्यनीकानि तव तेषां च भारत | शनैरुपेयुरन्योन्यं योध्यमानानि संयुगे

Transliteration

tato vyūḍhāny anīkāni tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata | śanair upeyur anyonyaṃ yodhyamānāni saṃyuge | āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvāja-cikīrṣitam ||

Translation

സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ഭാരതാ! തുടർന്ന് നിങ്ങളുടെ സൈന്യവും അവരുടെ സൈന്യവും വ്യൂഹബദ്ധമായി, യുദ്ധസമരത്തിൽ ഏറ്റുമുട്ടുവാൻ പതുക്കെ പരസ്പരം സമീപിച്ചു. കൂടാതെ വിശ്വസ്തരിലൂടെ ഭാരദ്വാജപുത്രൻ ദ്രോണന്റെ ഉദ്ദേശം വേഗത്തിൽ അറിയപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

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

• व्यूढानि: arrayed, formed (in battle-order)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यूढ
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• अनीकानि: armies, divisions
• अनीकानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• तव: your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शनैः: slowly, gradually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः

• उपेयुः: approached, came near
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-इ
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• अन्योन्यम्: each other, mutually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य

• योध्यमानानि: being fought, fighting (engaged in battle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural, Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Passive

• संयुगे: in battle, in combat
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• आप्तैः: by trusted (agents), by reliable (persons)
• आप्तैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्त
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

• परिज्ञातम्: was fully known/ascertained
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ज्ञा
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त), Passive

• भारद्वाज: of Bhāradvāja (Drona)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चिकीर्षितम्: what was intended to be done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Desiderative past passive participle (चिकीर्षित, from desiderative stem), Passive

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by address 'Bhārata')
• Droṇa (Bhāradvāja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid righteous-war (dharma-yuddha) ideals, outcomes depend on preparedness: disciplined formations and timely intelligence. The verse highlights that ethical responsibility in war includes vigilance and informed decision-making, not mere valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Both armies, already arranged in battle formations, advance toward each other. At the same time, Droṇa’s intended plan is quickly learned through reliable agents, setting the stage for strategic counter-moves.