Mahabharata 7.33.1 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 33, Shloka 1

Abhimanyu-śravaṇa-prastāva and Cakravyūha-vinyāsa

Prelude to Abhimanyu’s Account and the Wheel-Formation Deployment

Devanagari script

अपना बछ। है २ >> (अभिमन्युवधपर्व) त्रयस्त्रिंशो&ध्याय: दुर्योधनका उपालम्भ

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | pūrvam asmāsu bhagneṣu phālgunenāmitaujasā | droṇe ca moghasaṅkalpe rakṣite ca yudhiṣṭhire ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: О царь, когда прежде мы все были обращены в бегство Фалгуной (Арджуной), чья мощь неизмерима; когда замысел Дроны оказался тщетным; и когда царь Юдхиштхира был полностью ограждён, тогда все твои воины, с согласия Дроны, прекратили бой и, в великом страхе, озираясь по десяти сторонам света, двинулись к стану. Все они были побеждены, покрыты пылью; их доспехи были изорваны; и, пронзённые безошибочными стрелами Арджуны, они стали посмешищем на поле брани.

Word by Word

• संजयः: Sanjaya
• संजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular

• पूर्वम्: formerly / earlier
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व

• अस्मासु: among us / with respect to us
• अस्मासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Locative, Plural

• भग्नेषु: when (we were) defeated / broken
• भग्नेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• फाल्गुनेन: by Phalguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अमितौजसा: of immeasurable vigor
• अमितौजसा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित-ओजस्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• द्रोणे: when/while Drona (was present/concerned)
• द्रोणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• मोघसंकल्पे: whose resolve was futile
• मोघसंकल्पे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोघ-संकल्प
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• रक्षिते: when (he was) protected / guarded
• रक्षिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षित
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• युधिष्ठिरे: when/while Yudhishthira (was ...)
• युधिष्ठिरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• Arjuna (Phālguna)
• Droṇācārya (Droṇa)
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and practical limits of mere force and vows in war: even a great commander’s determination can become futile when opposed by superior skill and when the protected cause (here, Yudhiṣṭhira’s safety) is upheld. It cautions against overconfidence and underscores that outcomes depend on more than intent—on capability, circumstance, and the moral-psychological balance of the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Duryodhana that the Kaurava forces had already been driven back by Arjuna; Droṇa’s plan did not succeed; and Yudhiṣṭhira remained secure. This sets the scene for the ensuing developments in the Abhimanyu episode by emphasizing the Kauravas’ setback and the frustration of their leadership’s objectives.