Shloka 516

Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ

Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors

Devanagari script

नन्दयिष्यत्यमित्रान्‌ हि फाल्गुनेन निपातित:ः । 'क्या दुर्योधनके हितमें तत्पर रहनेवाला राजा जयद्रथ अर्जुनके हाथसे मारा जाकर शत्रुपक्षको आनन्दित करेगा?

Transliteration

nandayīṣyaty amitrān hi phālgunena nipātitaḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Sesungguhnya, jika dia ditumbangkan oleh Phālguna (Arjuna), adakah Raja Jayadratha—yang begitu tekun demi kepentingan Duryodhana—akhirnya akan menggembirakan pihak musuh?”

Word by Word

• नन्दयिष्यति: will gladden
• नन्दयिष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नन्द्
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपदम्, 3, singular

• अमित्रान्: enemies
• अमित्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• फाल्गुनेन: by Phalguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• निपातितः: felled/slain
• निपातितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-पत्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• ः: (punctuation/visarga artifact)
• Type: Indeclinable

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (Phālguna)
• Jayadratha
• Duryodhana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the irony of war: even actions driven by loyalty to one’s own side can culminate in outcomes that strengthen the enemy. It underscores how attachment to factional success, rather than righteous discernment, can lead to self-defeating consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, reflects on the prospect of Jayadratha—an ally devoted to Duryodhana’s interests—being slain by Arjuna, which would naturally bring joy to the opposing (Pāṇḍava) side.