Shloka 6

Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ

The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges

Devanagari script

पाण्डवानां प्रतापेन दुर्ग देशं निवेश्य च । सपत्नान्‌ सततं बाधन्नार्यवृत्तिमनुछित:

Transliteration

pāṇḍavānāṃ pratāpena durga-deśaṃ niveśya ca | sapatnān satataṃ bādhan ārya-vṛttim anucchitaḥ ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତାପର ଚାପରେ ସେ ଦୁର୍ଗମ ଦେଶରେ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନେଲା। ସେ ସତତ ନିଜ ପ୍ରତିଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ବାଧା ଦେଉଥିଲା, ତଥାପି ଆର୍ୟବୃତ୍ତିକୁ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କରୁଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रतापेन: by/through (their) prowess
• प्रतापेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रताप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दुर्गम्: a fort
• दुर्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• देशम्: region/place
• देशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निवेश्य: having entered/settled in
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सपत्नान्: rivals/enemies
• सपत्नान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपत्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सततम्: constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• बाधन्: hindering/harassing
• बाधन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आर्यवृत्तिम्: noble conduct/right practice
• आर्यवृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्यवृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुचितः: proper/appropriate (one)
• अनुचितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुचित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Pāṇḍavas
• sapatna (rivals/enemies)
• durga-deśa (stronghold/inaccessible region)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid hostility and tactical warfare, one is expected to uphold ārya-vṛtti—noble, dharmic standards of conduct—showing that ethical restraint is not automatically negated by conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes a figure compelled by the Pāṇḍavas’ strength to retreat into an inaccessible stronghold; from there he continually troubles his opponents, yet is portrayed as maintaining socially approved, ‘noble’ conduct.