Shloka 78

Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)

Devanagari script

ततस्तं विरथं दृष्टवा कृप: शारद्वत: प्रभो

Transliteration

tatastam virathaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛpaḥ śāradvataḥ prabho

Translation

ତେବେ ତାହାକୁ ରଥହୀନ ଦେଖି, ହେ ପ୍ରଭୋ, ଶାରଦ୍ୱତପୁତ୍ର କୃପ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ କରି କହିଲେ—ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ଘୋର ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନରେ ବୀରଙ୍କ ଅସହାୟତା ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକାଶ ପାଏ, ଏବଂ ଧର୍ମ-କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟର ନିର୍ଦୟ ଆହ୍ୱାନ ଅବିରତ ରହେ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable)

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• विरथम्: without a chariot, chariotless
• विरथम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः

• कृपः: Kripa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• शारद्वतः: Śāradvata (son/descendant of Śaradvat)
• शारद्वतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद्वत
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• प्रभो: O lord!
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛpa (Śāradvata)
• prabhu (the addressed lord/king, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the battlefield reality that status and advantage can reverse instantly; a warrior may become chariotless, yet the ethical demand of kṣatriya-duty persists. It also frames a response by a senior figure (Kṛpa), suggesting counsel or reaction shaped by responsibility rather than mere triumphalism.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates to the king that Kṛpa notices a key warrior has become viratha (without a chariot). This observation marks a turning point in the combat situation and sets up Kṛpa’s ensuing words or action in response to that vulnerability.