Shloka 73

Devanagari script

अभिद्रवन्तु वेगेन कुम्भयोनिवधेप्सया । “नकुल, सहदेव, द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र, प्रभद्रकगण, पुत्रों और भाइयोंसहित द्रुपद और विराट, सात्यकि, केकय तथा पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन-ये द्रोणाचार्यके वधकी इच्छासे वेगपूर्वक उनपर धावा बोल दें

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

abhidravantu vegena kumbhayoni-vadhepsayā |

Translation

अभिद्रवन्तु वेगेन कुम्भयोनिवधेप्सया।

Word by Word

• अभिद्रवन्तु: let them rush/charge
• अभिद्रवन्तु: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथम, बहुवचन

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुम्भयोनि-वधेप्सया: with the desire to slay Kumbhayoni (Drona)
• कुम्भयोनि-वधेप्सया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भयोनि-वधेप्सा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kumbhayoni (Droṇācārya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how battlefield action is often framed as purposeful strategy rather than uncontrolled rage: a collective, disciplined charge is urged with a specific objective—removing a pivotal commander (Droṇa). It invites reflection on dharma in war: intention, target, and perceived necessity shape how violence is justified within the epic’s moral universe.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the warriors are being urged to rush swiftly, intent on killing Droṇa (called Kumbhayoni). The line functions as a tactical cue in the Droṇa-parvan sequence where the Pāṇḍava side seeks to neutralize Droṇa’s overwhelming prowess and command.