Shloka 15

Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout

Devanagari script

सम्बुध्य चरणस्पर्शादुत्थाय रणदुर्मद:

Transliteration

sambudhya caraṇasparśād utthāya raṇadurmadāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Terjaga oleh sentuhan pada kakinya, dia bangkit—masih mabuk oleh kegilaan pertempuran, fikirannya belum reda oleh pertimbangan atau kendalian diri.

Word by Word

सम्बुध्यhaving awakened/realized

चरणस्पर्शात्from (the) touching of the feet

उत्थायhaving risen

रणदुर्मदःthe one intoxicated with battle (battle-maddened)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights how the intoxication of war (raṇadurmadāḥ) can overpower discernment; even a simple, respectful act like touching the feet becomes merely a trigger for action, not necessarily a moment of ethical awakening.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that someone who had been lying down or resting is awakened by a touch at his feet and then rises, still driven by battle-fury and arrogance.