Shloka 16

Abhimanyu’s Śrāddha; Vyāsa’s Assurance of the Unborn Heir (अभिमन्योः श्राद्धं तथा गर्भरक्षणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

न तेन विकृतं वक्‍त्र कृतं संग्राममूर्धनि

Transliteration

na tena vikṛtaṃ vaktraṃ kṛtaṃ saṃgrāmamūrdhani

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Ngay giữa đỉnh điểm của chiến trận, gương mặt chàng vẫn không méo mó vì sợ hãi hay xao động; chàng không để cơn khủng hoảng của chiến tranh làm biến dạng sự điềm tĩnh của mình.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तेन: by him/it; with that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, singular

• विकृतम्: distorted, disfigured
• विकृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• वक्त्रम्: face, mouth
• वक्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• कृतम्: made, done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• संग्राम-मूर्धनि: on the battlefield; at the head/top of the battle
• संग्राम-मूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राममूर्धन्
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights inner steadiness as an ethical ideal: even amid the extremity of war, a noble person maintains self-control and does not let fear, anger, or panic visibly deform the mind and body. It implies that true valor includes restraint and dignity, not merely force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a warrior (implied from context) whose countenance remains unchanged at the very climax of combat. The line functions as a characterizing detail, praising steadfast courage and unshaken resolve during a critical moment in battle.