Shloka 36

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 109 — Karṇa–Bhīma Yuddha and Durmukha’s Fall (कर्णभीमयुद्धम्; दुर्मुखवधः)

Devanagari script

मागधान्‌ द्रवतो दृष्टवा हतशेषान्‌ समन्ततः

Transliteration

māgadhān dravato dṛṣṭvā hataśeṣān samantataḥ

Translation

मागधान् द्रवतो दृष्ट्वा हतशेषान् समन्ततः ।

Word by Word

• मागधान्: the Magadhas (men of Magadha)
• मागधान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मागध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• द्रवतः: fleeing, running away
• द्रवतः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• हतशेषान्: those remaining after being slain; the survivors
• हतशेषान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत-शेष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• समन्ततः: on all sides, all around
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Magadhans (people/warriors of Magadha)
• Magadha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a recurring ethical reality of war: when violence escalates, even powerful allies can be reduced to a scattered remnant. It implicitly warns that reliance on force produces instability and fear, and that victory often manifests as others’ suffering and disarray.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Magadhan contingent has been shattered in battle; many have been killed, and the survivors are fleeing in all directions, indicating a rout and collapse of their formation.