Mahabharata 7.97.44 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 97, Shloka 44

शैनेयचरितम्

The Exploits of Śaineya/Sātyaki amid Encirclement

Devanagari script

शिखण्डिनं याज्ञसेनिं रुन्धानमपराजितम्‌ । बाह्लीक: प्रतिसंयत्त: पराक्रान्तमवारयत्‌,किसीसे परास्त न होनेवाले पराक्रमी यज्ञसेन-कुमार शिखण्डीको, जो राह रोककर खड़ा था, बाह्लीकने पूर्ण प्रयत्नशील होकर रोका

Transliteration

śikhaṇḍinaṃ yājñaseniṃ rundhānam aparājitam | bāhlīkaḥ pratisaṃyattaḥ parākrāntam avārayat ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Si Bāhlīka, na ganap ang pasiya at buong lakas na kumikilos, ay humarang at pumigil kay Śikhaṇḍin—anak ni Yājñasena—na nakatindig upang barahan ang daan, isang mandirigmang hindi madaling mapabagsak.

Word by Word

• शिखण्डिनम्: Shikhandin (as object)
• शिखण्डिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• याज्ञसेनिम्: the son of Yajnasena (Drupada)
• याज्ञसेनिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञसेनि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रुन्धानम्: blocking, obstructing
• रुन्धानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुध्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपराजितम्: unconquered, undefeated
• अपराजितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बाह्लीकः: Bahlika
• बाह्लीकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्लीक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिसंयत्तः: fully prepared, ready for combat
• प्रतिसंयत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिसंयत
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पराक्रान्तम्: valiant, mighty (having advanced in prowess)
• पराक्रान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराक्रान्त
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अवारयत्: checked, stopped, restrained
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वारयति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Yājñasena (Drupada)
• Bāhlīka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: in war, duty is enacted through steadfast resistance and disciplined effort. Ethical emphasis lies in meeting opposition directly—checking an advancing foe not out of personal spite but as a function of one’s role in the larger order of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śikhaṇḍin, described as unconquered and powerful, is blocking the way. Bāhlīka, fully prepared and striving, confronts him and prevents his advance, creating a direct clash between two determined warriors.