Shloka 79

युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya

Devanagari script

एवं प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे गजवाजिनरक्षये

Transliteration

evaṁ pravṛtte saṅgrāme gajavājinara-kṣaye

Translation

சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—இவ்வாறு போர் பெருக்கெடுத்து ஓடிக்கொண்டிருக்கையில் அழிவின் காட்சி பரவியது; யானைகளும் குதிரைகளும் வெட்டப்பட்டன, மனிதரும் அழிந்தனர்—போரின் வேகம் கண்மூடித்தனமான படுகொலையாக மாறியது.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• प्रवृत्ते: having begun; being in progress
• प्रवृत्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवृत्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• संग्रामे: in the battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गजवाजिनरक्षये: in the destruction of elephants, horses, and men
• गजवाजिनरक्षये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-वाजि-नर-क्षय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• संग्राम (battle)
• गज (elephants)
• वाजि (horses)
• नर (men/warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line underscores the moral gravity of war: once battle is fully underway, violence tends to expand beyond individual duels into widespread, almost impersonal destruction—reminding the listener that adharma-driven conflict consumes not only heroes but also the broader living world (men and animals alike).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the fighting has intensified; the battlefield has become a place of mass slaughter where elephants, horses, and warriors are being destroyed as the combat continues relentlessly.