Mahabharata 7.32.78 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 32, Shloka 78

Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam

Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32

Devanagari script

तथा परैर्बहुकरणैर्वरायुधै- हता गता: प्रतिभयदर्शना: क्षितिम्‌ विपोथिता हयगजपादताडिता भूशाकुला रथमुखनेमिश्रि: क्षता:

Transliteration

tathā parair bahukaraṇair varāyudhair hatā gatāḥ pratibhayadarśanāḥ kṣitim | vipothitā hayagajapādatāḍitā bhūśākulā rathamukhanemiśriḥ kṣatāḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ଅନେକ ସାଧନ ଥିଲା, ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କ ହାତରେ ଉତ୍ତମ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର-ଶସ୍ତ୍ର ଥିଲା। ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ହତ ହୋଇ ପୃଥିବୀରେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ସେନାମାନେ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଲାଗୁଥିଲେ। କେତେକ ଯୋଦ୍ଧା ହାତୀ ଓ ଘୋଡ଼ାର ପାଦତଳେ ଆଘାତ ପାଇ ଭୂମିରେ ଢଳିପଡ଼ିଲେ; ଆଉ କେତେକ ବଡ଼ ବଡ଼ ରଥର ଚକ୍ରର କିନାରା ଓ ଅଗ୍ରଭାଗ ତଳେ ଚାପି ହୋଇ, କ୍ଷତବିକ୍ଷତ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ଭୟଙ୍କର ବେଦନାରେ ଛଟପଟାଇଲେ।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• परैः: by others (by the enemies)
• परैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बहुकरणैः: by many means/instruments
• बहुकरणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुकरण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वरायुधैः: by excellent weapons
• वरायुधैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरायुध
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• हताः: slain
• हताः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गताः: gone, fallen (down)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: kta (past active/resultative participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रतिभयदर्शनाः: having terrifying appearance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिभयदर्शन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्षितिम्: to/on the earth, ground
• क्षितिम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विपोथिताः: crushed, battered
• विपोथिताः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-पुथ्/पथ् (विपोथयति)
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हयगजपादताडिताः: struck by the feet of horses and elephants
• हयगजपादताडिताः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हयगजपादताडित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भूशाकुलाः: distressed on the ground / ground-tossed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूशाकुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथमुखनेमिश्रिः: ground by the front rims of chariot-wheels
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथमुखनेमिश्रि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्षताः: wounded, mangled
• क्षताः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षन्/क्षत (from √क्षन्/√क्षद् in sense 'to wound')
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• enemy forces (parāḥ)
• weapons (āyudha)
• earth/ground (kṣiti/bhū)
• horses (haya)
• elephants (gaja)
• chariots (ratha)
• chariot wheels/rims (nemi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the grim ethical reality of war: superior weapons and many war-means culminate in widespread bodily devastation. It functions as a moral mirror—reminding the listener that martial success is inseparable from suffering, and that dharma in war must be weighed against the human cost.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield aftermath: soldiers slain by the enemy’s excellent weapons lie on the earth in terrifying condition; some are trampled by horses and elephants, while others are crushed and mangled beneath the wheels of great chariots.