Mahabharata 7.116.33 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 33

Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)

Devanagari script

विद्रुतान्‌ रथिनो दृष्टवा निरुत्साहान्‌ द्विषज्जये । पलायनकृतोत्साहान्‌ मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रका:

Transliteration

vidrutān rathino dṛṣṭvā nirutsāhān dviṣajjaye | palāyanakṛtotsāhān manye śocanti putrakāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Melihat para pahlawan berkereta lari bertempiaran—hilang semangat untuk menewaskan musuh, dan hanya menunjukkan ‘keberanian’ dalam perbuatan melarikan diri—aku menyangka putera-putera tuanku sedang berdukacita.

Word by Word

• विद्रुतान्: having fled; running away
• विद्रुतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्रुत (वि+द्रुत)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रथिनः: chariot-warriors
• रथिनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• निरुत्साहान्: without enthusiasm; dispirited
• निरुत्साहान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुत्साह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• द्विषत्-जये: in victory over enemies
• द्विषत्-जये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत् + जय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पलायन-कृत-उत्साहान्: whose zeal is in fleeing; showing valor only in flight
• पलायन-कृत-उत्साहान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन + कृत + उत्साह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मन्ये: I think
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Atmanepada

• शोचन्ति: they grieve
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पुत्रकाः: sons (dear sons)
• पुत्रकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons (Kauravas)
• rathinaḥ (chariot-warriors)
• dviṣat (the enemy/opposing army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical collapse that occurs when the aim of battle (victory grounded in duty and resolve) is replaced by fear: energy that should serve righteous effort becomes misdirected into flight, producing shame and grief for leaders and kin.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava chariot-warriors are retreating in a dispirited state, and he infers that Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons are sorrowing as they witness their forces abandon the prospect of defeating the enemy.