Shloka 2936

रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield

Devanagari script

शल्यस्य वाहिनीं हन्तुमभिदुद्रुवुराहवे । (उन तीनोंके अध्यक्ष थे--) धृष्टद्युम्न, शिखण्डी और महारथी सात्यकि। इन लोगोंने युद्धस्थलमें शल्यकी सेनाका वध करनेके लिये उसपर धावा बोल दिया

Transliteration

śalyasya vāhinīṁ hantum abhidudruvur āhave |

Translation

Санджая сказал: «В самой гуще битвы они ринулись, чтобы сокрушить войско Шальи. Во главе с Дхриштадьюмной, Шикханди и великим колесничим-махаратхой Сатьяки они обрушили яростный натиск на силы Шальи».

Word by Word

• शल्यस्य: of Shalya
• शल्यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वाहिनीम्: army
• वाहिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• अभिदुद्रुवुः: they rushed/charged (towards)
• अभिदुद्रुवुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śalya
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Śikhaṇḍī
• Sātyaki
• Śalya’s army (vāhinī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: leaders must act decisively to protect their side and fulfill their wartime duty, even when the means involve destruction. It reflects the epic’s ethical tension—pursuit of a righteous end amid morally weighty violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the battle, the Pandava-aligned commanders—Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, and Sātyaki—charge forward to strike down Śalya’s military host, initiating a concentrated attack on Śalya’s forces.