Shloka 386

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 109 — Karṇa–Bhīma Yuddha and Durmukha’s Fall (कर्णभीमयुद्धम्; दुर्मुखवधः)

Devanagari script

नाभ्यवर्तत युद्धाय त्रासितं दीर्घबाहुना । राजन! महामना महाबाहु सात्यकिके द्वारा डरायी गयी और तितत-बितर की हुई आपकी सेना फिर युद्धके लिये सामने नहीं आयी

Transliteration

nābhyavartata yuddhāya trāsitaṃ dīrghabāhunā | rājan mahāmanā mahābāhu sātyakike dvārā darāyī gayī aura titat-bitar kī huī āpakī senā phira yuddhake liye sāmane nahīṃ āyī

Translation

ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ! ਲੰਮੇ ਬਾਹਾਂ ਵਾਲੇ, ਮਹਾਨ ਮਨ ਵਾਲੇ, ਮਹਾਬਾਹੁ ਸਾਤ੍ਯਕੀ ਤੋਂ ਡਰ ਕੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਛਿੱਤਰ-ਭਿੱਤਰ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਯੁੱਧ ਲਈ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਨਾ ਆਈ।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अभ्यवर्तत: returned/advanced (towards)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (वर्तते)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd, singular

• युद्धाय: for battle
• युद्धाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: neuter, dative, singular

• त्रासितम्: frightened/terrified
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रासित (√त्रस्)
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• दीर्घबाहुना: by the long-armed one
• दीर्घबाहुना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घबाहु
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sātyaki
• Kaurava army

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that in war, morale and unity are decisive: when fear spreads and formation breaks, even a large army may fail to re-engage. Ethically, it also reflects the kṣatriya ideal that steadfastness is expected, and that panic is a strategic and moral collapse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki’s fierce assault has terrified and scattered the Kaurava troops, and as a result they do not come forward again to fight.