Shloka 42

Devanagari script

ते द्रोणपुत्रमासाद्य यथावृत्तं नयवेदयन्‌

Transliteration

te droṇaputram āsādya yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayan |

Translation

ते द्रोणपुत्रमासाद्य यथावृत्तं नयवेदयन्।

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्रोणपुत्रम्: Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रोणपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आसाद्य: having approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), prior action

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• वृत्तम्: the event, what happened
• वृत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न्यवेदयन्: they reported, informed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√विद् (वेदयति)
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇaputra (Aśvatthāmā)
• Bhīmasena
• the king (Duryodhana, in the context of the mace-fight)
• messengers (saṃdeśavāhakāḥ)
• gadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the moral weight of wartime conduct persists beyond the battlefield: actions in combat (especially those seen as improper) generate grief, agitation, and further escalation. It underscores the ethical scrutiny of kṣatriya behavior and the psychological consequences of adharma-perceived acts.

What is happening in the narrative?

Messengers arrive to Aśvatthāmā and narrate the events of the mace-duel—Bhīma’s manner of fighting and the king’s being brought down. After delivering the report, they remain absorbed in sorrowful reflection for a time and then depart, leaving Aśvatthāmā with the grim news.