Shloka 99
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
Devanagari script
ते भग्ना: प्रपतन्ति सम निध्नन्तश्न॒ परस्परम्
Transliteration
te bhagnāḥ prapatanti sma nighnantas tu parasparam
Translation
సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—వారు చెదిరిపోయి పడిపోతూ, ఆ గందరగోళంలో పరస్పరం ఒకరినొకరు తొక్కుతూ, ఢీకొంటూ పోయారు.
Word by Word
तेthey (those)
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
भग्नाःbroken, routed
भग्नाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभग्न (√भञ्ज्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रपतन्तिfall down, tumble, rush down
प्रपतन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र√पत्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
सम्together, completely (as a preverb)
सम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्
निघ्नन्तःstriking, killing
निघ्नन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनि√हन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)
परस्परम्one another, mutually
परस्परम्:
Karma
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
संजय (Sañjaya)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 warfare, once it descends into panic and disorder, erodes discernment and solidarity; ethical restraint collapses and violence becomes indiscriminate, even turning inward among one’s own side.
Sañjaya describes routed fighters who, in confusion, fall and strike each other—depicting a scene of disarray where the defeated are not merely fleeing but are caught in mutual, chaotic violence.