Shloka 36

अभिमन्यु-परिवेष्टनम्

Encirclement and Counterassault of Abhimanyu

Devanagari script

वनायुजानू्‌ पर्वतीयान्‌ काम्बोजानथ बाह्लिकान्‌ | स्थिरबालधिकर्णाक्षाञ्जवनान्‌ साधुवाहिन:,इति श्रीमहा भारते द्रोणपर्वणि अभिमन्युवधपर्वणि अभिमन्युपराक्रमे षट्त्रिंशो5ध्याय:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

vanāyujānūn parvatīyān kāmbojān atha bāhlikān |

sthirabāladhikarṇākṣāñ javanān sādhuvāhinaḥ |

iti śrīmahābhārate droṇaparvaṇi abhimanyuvadhaparvaṇi abhimanyuparākrame ṣaṭtriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେଠାରେ ବନାୟୁଜ ଓ ପର୍ବତୀୟ, କାମ୍ବୋଜ ଓ ବାହ୍ଲିକ; ଏବଂ ଯବନମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଥିଲେ—ସ୍ଥିରବଳ, ପ୍ରମୁଖ କର୍ଣ୍ଣ-ନେତ୍ରବିଶିଷ୍ଟ, ଉତ୍ତମ ଅଶ୍ୱବାହିନୀ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ। ଇତି ଶ୍ରୀମହାଭାରତେ ଦ୍ରୋଣପର୍ବଣି ଅଭିମନ୍ୟୁବଧପର୍ବଣି ଅଭିମନ୍ୟୁପରାକ୍ରମେ ଷଟ୍ତ୍ରିଂଶ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ।

Word by Word

• वनायुजान्: the Vanāyujas (a people/tribe)
• वनायुजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनायुज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पर्वतीयान्: the mountaineers
• पर्वतीयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वतीय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• काम्बोजान्: the Kāmbojas
• काम्बोजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्बोज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अथ: and then / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• बाह्लिकान्: the Bāhlikas
• बाह्लिकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्लिक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• स्थिरबालधिकर्णाक्षान्: those whose eyes are steady, childlike, and large/eared (epithet; compound)
• स्थिरबालधिकर्णाक्षान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिरबालधिकर्णाक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जवनान्: the Yavanas (Greeks/foreigners)
• जवनान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जवन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• साधुवाहिनः: those who carry/lead the good (or: having good troops/vehicles)
• साधुवाहिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधुवाहिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Vanāyujas
• Parvatīyas
• Kāmbojas
• Bāhlikas
• Yavanas
• Droṇa Parva
• Abhimanyuvadha Parva
• Abhimanyu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the vast, multi-regional scale of the Kurukṣetra war: when adharma-driven conflict escalates, it draws in many peoples and resources, multiplying suffering and moral responsibility. The catalogue implicitly warns that war’s reach extends far beyond the immediate quarrel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is listing various groups present in the battle—Vanāyujas, mountain peoples, Kāmbojas, Bāhlikas, and Yavanas—describing them as strong and well-mounted. This occurs within the Droṇa Parvan’s Abhimanyu-focused section, framing the intensity of forces involved around the events leading to Abhimanyu’s fate.