Shloka 11
Devanagari script
नाशंसन्तो जयं युद्धे दीनात्मानो धनंजय । आत्मत्राणे मतिं कृत्वा प्राद्रवन् कुरवो रणात्
Transliteration
nāśaṃsanto jayaṃ yuddhe dīnātmāno dhanaṃjaya | ātmatrāṇe matiṃ kṛtvā prādravan kuravo raṇāt |
Translation
नाशंसन्तो जयं युद्धे दीनात्मानो धनंजय। आत्मत्राणे मतिं कृत्वा प्राद्रवन् कुरवो रणात्॥
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
आशंसन्तःnot hoping/desiring
आशंसन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootआ-शंस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)
जयम्victory
जयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
युद्धेin battle
युद्धे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
दीनात्मानःdejected in spirit
दीनात्मानः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदीन-आत्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
धनंजयO Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजय:
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
आत्मत्राणेin self-protection
आत्मत्राणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआत्म-त्राण
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
मतिम्intention/mind
मतिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving made
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)
प्राद्रवन्ran away/fled
प्राद्रवन्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-√द्रु (द्रव्)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
कुरवःthe Kurus
कुरवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकुरु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रणात्from the battlefield
रणात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
Speaker
युधिछिर उवाच
Characters & Entities
Y
YudhiṣṭhiraD
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)K
KauravasR
raṇa (battlefield)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner resolve determines conduct in crisis: when hope of victory collapses, fear and self-preservation can override martial duty, leading to retreat. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness with a mind dominated by survival-anxiety.
Yudhiṣṭhira reports that the Kaurava forces, despairing of winning against Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) and the Pāṇḍavas, became demoralized and fled the battlefield, focusing only on saving their lives.