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Shloka 34

भीष्मस्य मण्डलव्यूहः — Bhīṣma’s Maṇḍala Battle-Formation and the Opening Engagements

जब सूर्य अस्ताचलके पास पहुँचकर लाल होने लगे, उस समय अर्जुनने बड़ी उतावलीके साथ बाण-वर्षा करके पचीस हजार महारथियोंको मार डाला ।। ते हि दुर्योधनादिष्टास्तदा पार्थनिबर्हणे । सम्प्राप्यैव गता नाशं शलभा इव पावकम्‌

te hi duryodhanādiṣṭās tadā pārthanibarhaṇe | samprāpyaiva gatā nāśaṃ śalabhā iva pāvakam ||

دُریودھن کے حکم سے وہ اُس وقت پارتھ کی ہلاکت کے لیے لپکے؛ مگر مقابلے میں پہنچتے ہی شعلے میں گرتے پروانوں کی طرح خود ہی ہلاک ہو گئے۔

तेthey (those)
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
दुर्योधनादिष्टाःcommanded by Duryodhana
दुर्योधनादिष्टाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्योधन-आदिष्ट
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
पार्थArjuna (son of Pritha)
पार्थ:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
निबर्हणेin the destruction/overthrow
निबर्हणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनिबर्हण
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
सम्प्राप्यhaving reached/attaining
सम्प्राप्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-प्र-आप्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
एवjust/indeed
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
गताःgone (came to)
गताः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
FormPast Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
नाशम्destruction
नाशम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाश
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
शलभाःmoths/locusts
शलभाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशलभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
पावकम्fire
पावकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपावक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Duryodhana
P
Pārtha (Arjuna)
P
pāvaka (fire)
Ś
śalabha (moths)

Educational Q&A

Aggression driven by pride and blind obedience, especially when aimed at unjust destruction, becomes self-destructive. The moth-and-flame simile teaches that reckless hostility toward a superior or righteous force leads to inevitable ruin.

Sañjaya reports that warriors sent by Duryodhana with the mission of killing Arjuna (Pārtha) approach him in battle, but instead of succeeding they are annihilated—likened to moths perishing as they fly into fire.