Mahabharata 7.50.2 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 50, Shloka 2

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 50 — Arjuna’s foreboding and lament for Abhimanyu; Kṛṣṇa’s dharma-consolation

Devanagari script

निरीक्षमाणास्तु वयं परे चायोधनं शनै: । अपयाता महाराज ग्लानिं प्राप्ता विचेतस:

Transliteration

nirīkṣamāṇās tu vayaṁ pare cāyodhanaṁ śanaiḥ | apayātā mahārāja glāniṁ prāptā vicetasaḥ ||

Translation

சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—மகாராஜா! நாங்களும் எதிர்தரப்பினரும் போர்க்களத்தை நோக்கிக்கொண்டே மெதுவாக அங்கிருந்து விலகினோம். களைப்பும் துயரமும் மேலோங்கி, வீரர்களின் மனம் நிலையிழந்து குழம்பியது.

Word by Word

• निरीक्षमाणाः: looking at, observing
• निरीक्षमाणाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√ईक्ष् (ईक्ष्)
• Form: present active (शतृ), masculine, nominative, plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: common, nominative, plural

• परे: the others; the enemy side
• परे: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• आयोधनम्: battlefield; place of fighting
• आयोधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयोधन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• शनैः: slowly, gradually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैस्/शनैः

• अपयाताः: having withdrawn; having gone away
• अपयाताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-√या (या)
• Form: past active (क्त), masculine, nominative, plural

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• ग्लानिम्: weariness; dejection
• ग्लानिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्लानि
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• प्राप्ताः: having attained; having fallen into
• प्राप्ताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्राप्
• Form: past active (क्त), masculine, nominative, plural

• विचेतसः: bewildered; senseless
• विचेतसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचेतस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• battlefield (āyodhana)
• the opposing armies (vayam, pare)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the human cost of war: even victors and foes alike can be shaken by what they witness. Ethical reflection arises not from triumph but from confronting suffering, fatigue, and mental disarray produced by violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that both sides, after looking over the battlefield, gradually pull back. The fighters are overwhelmed—physically drained and mentally clouded—suggesting a pause or recoil after intense and grievous fighting.