Shloka 39

अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa

Devanagari script

संजय उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथा वृत्तं महारणे | शुश्रूषस्व स्थिरो भूत्वा दुराचरितमात्मन:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca hanta te vartayiṣyāmi yathā vṛttaṃ mahāraṇe | śuśrūṣasva sthiro bhūtvā durācaritam ātmanaḥ ||

Translation

సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—అయితే విను; మహాసమరంలో జరిగినది యథాతథంగా నీకు వివరిస్తాను. మనసును స్థిరపరచుకొని శ్రద్ధగా విను; ఇది నీ పక్షంలోని దురాచరణ గురించిన కథనం.

Word by Word

संजयःSanjaya

उवाचsaid

हन्तindeed; well then

तेto you

वर्तयिष्यामिI shall relate/tell

यथाas; how

वृत्तम्what happened; the event

महा-रणेin the great battle

शुश्रूषस्वlisten attentively; be attentive

स्थिरःsteady

भूत्वाhaving become

दुराचरितम्evil deed; misconduct

आत्मनःof oneself/yourself

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical accountability within war: the listener must be steady and willing to hear uncomfortable truth, especially when it concerns wrongdoing by one’s own side. Moral clarity requires composure and honest reception of facts.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya prepares Dhṛtarāṣṭra for a detailed report of events in the great battle, urging attentive, composed listening because the account will describe serious misconduct attributable to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s own party.