Shloka 3

दुःशासन-सहदेव-संक्षोभः; भीम-राधेय-गदायुद्धम्; द्रोण-पार्थ-अस्त्रसंग्रामः

Duhshasana–Sahadeva Clash; Bhima–Karna Mace Exchange; Drona–Arjuna Astra Duel

Devanagari script

अम्बष्ठान्‌ मालवान्‌ वज्जन्‌ शिबींस्त्रैगर्तकानपि

Transliteration

ambaṣṭhān mālavān vajjan śibīṁs traigartakān api

Translation

अम्बष्ठान् मालवान् वज्जान् शिबींस्त्रैगर्तकानपि । जघान समरे वीरः क्षिप्रं शस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥

Word by Word

• अम्बष्ठान्: the Ambasthas (a people/tribe)
• अम्बष्ठान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मालवान्: the Malavas (a people/tribe)
• मालवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वज्जन्: the Vajjas/Vrjjis (a people/tribe)
• वज्जन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्ज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शिबीन्: the Shibis (a people/tribe)
• शिबीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिबि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• त्रैगर्तकान्: the Trigartas (a people/tribe)
• त्रैगर्तकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैगर्तक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

संयज उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Saṁjaya
• Ambaṣṭhas
• Mālavas
• Vajjans (Vṛjjis)
• Śibis
• Traigartas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the expansive moral and social cost of war: entire peoples are named as being struck down, reminding the listener that conflict spreads beyond the main protagonists and engulfs many communities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Saṁjaya reports battlefield events by listing groups of warriors—Ambaṣṭhas, Mālavas, Vajjans/Vṛjjis, Śibis, and Traigartas—who are being attacked/defeated in the ongoing fighting of the Droṇa Parva.