Shloka 43

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्

Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement

Devanagari script

तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने संग्रामे लोमहर्षणे । धार्तराष्ट्र महत्‌ सैन्यं प्रायशो विमुखीकृतम्‌

Transliteration

tasmiṁs tathā vartamāne saṅgrāme lomaharṣaṇe | dhārtarāṣṭra mahat sainyaṁ prāyaśo vimukhīkṛtam ||

Translation

तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने संग्रामे लोमहर्षणे । धार्तराष्ट्रं महत्सैन्यं प्रायशो विमुखीकृतम् ॥

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• वर्तमाने: while (it was) going on, occurring
• वर्तमाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ/शानच्), locative singular

• संग्रामे: in the battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• लोमहर्षणे: hair-raising, thrilling
• लोमहर्षणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोमहर्षण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• धार्तराष्ट्रम्: of the Dhartarashtras (Kauravas)
• धार्तराष्ट्रम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• महत्: great, large
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• प्रायशः: for the most part, generally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायशः

• विमुखीकृतम्: turned back, made to retreat
• विमुखीकृतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: विमुखीकृ
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त), from विमुखी-√कृ

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhartarashtra (as patronymic: Dhārtarāṣṭras/Kauravas)
• Kaurava army

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of power in war: numerical strength alone does not ensure victory. When fear and loss of confidence spread, even a great army can be forced into retreat—suggesting that inner steadiness and righteous resolve are decisive factors alongside strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, as the terrifying battle continues, the Kaurava (Dhārtarāṣṭra) host is largely being turned back—indicating a setback on their side and a shift in battlefield momentum.