Mahabharata 7.149.173 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 149, Shloka 173

अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa

Devanagari script

एष शेते रथोपस्थे कृपो मद्धघाणपीडित: । “मेरे-जैसा कौन पुरुष ब्राह्मण एवं आचार्यसे द्रोह करेगा? ये ऋषिकुमार, मेरे आचार्य तथा गुरुवर द्रोणाचार्यके परम सखा कृप मेरे बाणोंसे पीड़ित हो रथकी बैठकमें पड़े हैं

Transliteration

eṣa śete rathopasthe kṛpo mad-dhaghāṇa-pīḍitaḥ |

Translation

کِرِپ میرے تیروں کی چوٹ سے ستایا ہوا رتھ کی نشست پر پڑا ہے۔

Word by Word

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शेते: lies
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (शयने)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• रथोपस्थे: on the seat of the chariot
• रथोपस्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथोपस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कृपः: Kripa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मद्: by me / my
• मद्: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Instrumental (intended in compound), Singular

• अघाण: arrows (reading uncertain)
• अघाण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (intended in compound), Singular

• पीडितः: afflicted, pained
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीडित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• ratha (chariot)
• rathopastha (chariot-seat)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical strain of warfare: even when combat is obligatory, striking a revered Brahmin-teacher figure evokes moral unease, reminding the listener that dharma is not merely victory but right conduct amid violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Kṛpa has been hit by the speaker’s arrows and is lying on the chariot-seat, indicating Kṛpa’s momentary incapacitation in the ongoing battle scene of Droṇa Parva.