Shloka 11

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

सादिनो ध्वजिनश्लवैव हता: प्रवरवाजिन: । विप्रद्रुतरथानीका: समपद्यन्त पाण्डवा:,घुड़सवार, ध्वजा धारण करनेवाले सैनिक तथा उत्तम घोड़े मारे गये। पाण्डवोंकी रथ- सेना पलायन करने लगी

Transliteration

sādino dhvajinaś caiva hatāḥ pravaravājinaḥ | vipradrutarathānīkāḥ samapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ ||

Translation

گھڑ سوار اور علم بردار سپاہی مارے گئے، اور بہترین گھوڑے بھی ہلاک ہوئے؛ رتھوں کی صفیں بدحواس ہو کر ٹوٹیں اور بھاگنے لگیں، یوں پانڈوؤں کی فوج بےترتیب ہو گئی۔

Word by Word

सादिनःhorsemen, riders

ध्वजिनःstandard-bearers, those with banners

चand

एवindeed, just

हताःkilled, slain

प्रवरवाजिनःexcellent horses

विप्रद्रुतhaving fled in haste, routed

रथानीकाःchariot-formations, chariot-troops

समपद्यन्तfell into (that state), came to be, became

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Pāṇḍavas

horsemen (cavalry)

standard-bearers (flags/banners)

excellent horses

chariot-formations (ratha-anīka)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the instability of worldly power in war: when crucial supports—elite horses, cavalry, and standard-bearers that sustain morale and cohesion—are destroyed, even a strong force can quickly lose formation and confidence. It implicitly points to the ethical gravity of battle (kṣatriya-dharma) and the need for steadiness amid reversals.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that horsemen and flag-bearers have been killed and the best horses slain. As a result, the Pāṇḍavas’ chariot divisions are driven into flight and their army falls into disarray, indicating a moment of tactical setback and collapsing formation.