Shloka 11

भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103

Devanagari script

न चैनं तावका राजन्‌ विषेहुररिघातिनम्‌ | प्रदीप्तं पावक॑ यद्धत्‌ पतड़ा: कालचोदिता:

Transliteration

na cainaṃ tāvakā rājan viṣehuḥ arighātinam | pradīptaṃ pāvakaṃ yathā pataṅgāḥ kālacoditāḥ ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: О царь, твои воины не смогли выдержать его — Абхиманью, губителя врагов. Как мотыльки, гонимые судьбой, не выносят пылающего огня и гибнут в его жаре, так и твои рати были сокрушены его яростным натиском.

Word by Word

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

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

• एनम्: him (this one)
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तावकाः: your (men), your side's
• तावकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विषेहुः: endured, withstood
• Type: Verb
• Root: सह्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural

• अरिघातिनम्: enemy-slaying (one)
• अरिघातिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिघातिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रदीप्तम्: blazing, kindled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदीप्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पावकम्: fire
• पावकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: as, just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• हताः: killed, destroyed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हता (√हन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पतङ्गाः: moths, insects (drawn to flame)
• पतङ्गाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कालचोदिताः: impelled by Fate/Time
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालचोदित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Abhimanyu
• Kaurava troops
• Fire (pāvaka)
• Time/Fate (kāla)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the overwhelming force of a dharmic hero in battle and underscores the role of kāla (Time/Fate): when destiny ripens, even many cannot withstand one blazing power—like moths drawn helplessly to fire.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava soldiers failed to endure Abhimanyu’s assault; they were scattered and destroyed, compared to moths perishing in a blazing flame.