Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 1

Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira

Book 9, Chapter 11

Devanagari script

ऑपन--माजण बछ। अकाल एकादशोब< ध्याय: शल्यका पराक्रम

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tasmin vilulite sainye vadhyamāne parasparam | dravamāṇeṣu yodheṣu vinadatsu ca dantiṣu ||

Translation

Sabi ni Sañjaya: O Hari, nang sa dakilang labanan na iyon ay nagkagulo ang mga hukbo at, sa pagpatay sa isa’t isa, ay kapwa nalilipol—nang magsimulang tumakas ang mga mandirigma at umungal ang mga elepante—ang larangan ay naging tanawin ng sindak at pagwasak. Inilalarawan ng taludtod ang digmaan bilang karahasang kumakain sa sarili: kumakalat ang takot, gumuho ang kaayusan, at bumibilis ang paglipol sa mga may katawan, na humahamon sa nakikinig na harapin ang moral na halaga ng tagumpay na hinahangad sa pamamagitan ng pagpatay.

Word by Word

• संजय: Sanjaya
• संजय: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तस्मिन्: in that (situation/time)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• विलुलिते: when (it was) thrown into confusion
• विलुलिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-लुलित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सैन्ये: in the army
• सैन्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वध्यमाने: while being slain
• वध्यमाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• परस्परम्: mutually, one another
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

• द्रवमाणेषु: when (they were) fleeing/running
• द्रवमाणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रवमान
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• योधेषु: among the warriors
• योधेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योध
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• विनदत्सु: when (they were) trumpeting/roaring
• विनदत्सु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नदत्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

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

• दन्तिषु: among the elephants
• दन्तिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तिन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by address 'O King')
• Kaurava army (implied)
• Pāṇḍava army (implied)
• Elephants (dantin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: once violence is unleashed, it becomes reciprocal and destabilizing—fear, flight, and chaos spread through both sides. It invites reflection on the ethical cost of pursuing aims through mutual slaughter, even within a kṣatriya framework.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king that the battle has reached a frantic pitch: the armies are disordered, warriors are being killed by one another, many begin to flee, and elephants roar—signs that the fight has turned into a terrifying rout-like melee.