Shloka 28

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

ततो द्रोणो ययौ योद्धुं धृष्टद्युम्नेन बीर्यवान् / दिनानि पञ्च तद्युद्धमासीत्परमदारुणम्

Transliteration

tato droṇo yayau yoddhuṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnena bīryavān / dināni pañca tadyuddhamāsītparamadāruṇam

Translation

Kemudian Droṇa yang perkasa maju untuk bertempur dengan Dhṛṣṭadyumna; pertempuran antara mereka berlangsung lima hari dan amat dahsyat.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ततः = then/thereafter)

• droṇaḥ: Droṇa
• droṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: droṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• yoddhum: to fight
• yoddhum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yudh (युध्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभावः

• dhṛṣṭadyumnena: with/against Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• dhṛṣṭadyumnena: Sahakāraka (Associate/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhṛṣṭadyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्

• bīryavān: valiant, powerful
• bīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• dināni: days
• dināni: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म) (कालावधि), बहुवचनम्

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या; अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; (dināni इति विशेष्ये) अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे

• tat-yuddham: that battle
• tat-yuddham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (तत् + युद्धम्)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• parama-dāruṇam: extremely dreadful
• parama-dāruṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् (tat-yuddham)

Speaker

Uncertain (narratorial voice; not identifiable as Vishnu–Garuda dialogue from this excerpt)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cycles of violence proceed through successive agents; prowess does not prevent suffering—actions ripple into intensified consequences.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla and karma driving narrative inevitability; the guṇic momentum of conflict once unleashed.

Application: Interrupt escalation early; recognize how leadership changes can intensify conflict; prioritize de-escalation and ethical constraints.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (1.145) war narrative progression: after Bhīṣma, Drona’s phase begins

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna

FAQs

What is the main event described in this verse?

It states that Droṇa and Dhṛṣṭadyumna engaged in a fierce battle that lasted five days.

Does this verse describe Garuda Purana afterlife teachings (Preta, Yama, rituals)?

No. The verse is about an epic battlefield encounter and does not reference Garuda Purana’s afterlife or ritual framework.

Practical application of this verse today?

It can be read as a reminder that prolonged conflict is devastating, encouraging restraint, strategic clarity, and ethical reflection before escalation.