Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 50

अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः

Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners

Devanagari script

इति श्रीमहाभारते विराटपर्वणि गोहरणपर्वणि उत्तरगाग्रहे द्रौणिवाक्यं नाम पज्चाशत्तमोडथ्याय:

Transliteration

iti śrīmahābhārate virāṭaparvaṇi goharaṇaparvaṇi uttarāgāgrahe drauṇivākyaṃ nāma pañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീമഹാഭാരതത്തിലെ വിരാടപർവത്തിന്റെ അന്തർഗതമായ ഗോഹരണപർവത്തിൽ, ഉത്തരന്റെ അഗ്രഗമനസമയത്ത്, “ദ്രൗണി (അശ്വത്ഥാമ) വാക്യം” എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള അമ്പതാം അധ്യായം സമാപ്തമായി.

Word by Word

• इति: thus; end-quote marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• श्रीमहाभारते: in the Śrī-Mahābhārata
• श्रीमहाभारते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमहाभारत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• विराटपर्वणि: in the Virāṭa-parvan
• विराटपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराटपर्वन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• गोहरणपर्वणि: in the (sub-)parvan of cattle-stealing
• गोहरणपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोहरणपर्वन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• उत्तरगाग्रहे: at the seizing/capture of Uttarā (or: at the episode called Uttarā-graha)
• उत्तरगाग्रहे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तरगाग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• द्रौणिवाक्यं: the speech/statement of Droṇi (Aśvatthāman)
• द्रौणिवाक्यं: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणिवाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: named; called
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम

• पञ्चाशत्तमः: fiftieth
• पञ्चाशत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Mahābhārata
• Virāṭa Parva
• Goharaṇa Parva
• Uttara
• Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
• Droṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

As a colophon, the verse itself teaches by framing: it signals that speeches and decisions made during conflict are part of a larger moral narrative. The cattle-raid context highlights how kṣatriya valor, pride, and strategic counsel can either uphold dharma (right conduct in war and governance) or intensify adharma through aggression and provocation.

What is happening in the narrative?

This is the chapter-ending marker for Virāṭa Parva, chapter 50, identifying the setting (the cattle-raid section) and the moment (Uttara moving to the fore) and naming the chapter’s focus as the speech of Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā). It indicates the completion of that discourse within the unfolding confrontation.