Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अवधीच्च रथानीकं द्विरदानां च तद्‌ बलम्‌

Transliteration

avadhīc ca rathānīkaṃ dviradānāṃ ca tad balam

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Pinabagsak niya ang pangkat ng mga karwahe, at pati ang lakas ng mga elepante—kaya sa gitna ng labanan ay lalo niyang winasak ang maayos na hanay ng kaaway.

Word by Word

• अवधीत्: slew, killed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वध्
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), 3, Singular, परस्मैपदम्

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

• रथानीकम्: the chariot-division (chariot corps)
• रथानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथानीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्विरदानाम्: of the elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरद
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• तत्: that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बलम्: force, army
• बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• rathānīka (chariot contingent)
• dvirada (elephant force)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how organized military power (formations of chariots and elephants) can be shattered by decisive action; ethically, it reflects the grim reality of kṣatriya warfare where prowess and duty operate within a tragic economy of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that the warrior in focus destroys both a chariot contingent and an elephant corps, indicating a significant tactical blow to the opposing army’s strength during the fighting in Droṇa Parva.