Shloka 286

Devanagari script

अनीकं पाण्दुपुत्राणां हाहाभूतमचेतनम्‌ | पाण्डवोंकी सेना अचेत-सी होकर हाहाकार कर रही थी। उसके रथ, हाथी और घोड़े बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत हो रहे थे। ध्वजाएँ कटकर धराशायी हो गयी थीं

Transliteration

anīkaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ hāhābhūtam acetanam |

Translation

सञ्जय उवाच—पाण्डुपुत्राणामनीकं हाहाभूतम् अचेतनमिवाभवत्; तेषां रथगजाश्वाः शरैः क्षतविक्षताः, ध्वजाश्च छिन्नाः पतिताः।

Word by Word

• अनीकम्: army, host, battalion
• अनीकम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डुपुत्राणाम्: of the sons of Pāṇḍu (the Pāṇḍavas)
• पाण्डुपुत्राणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• हाहाभूतम्: having become a 'hāhā' (in a state of lamentation/uproar)
• हाहाभूतम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हाहा-भूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अचेतनम्: senseless, unconscious, bewildered
• अचेतनम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचेतन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pāṇḍu)
• Pāṇḍava army/battle-array (anīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the human cost of war: even a dharmic side can be shaken into confusion and lamentation when violence peaks. It invites reflection on restraint, responsibility, and the ethical weight borne by leaders and warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava battle-formation has fallen into panic and distress, appearing stunned and disoriented amid the fighting.