Shloka 3

Chapter 89: Bhīma dispatched to protect Ghaṭotkaca amid escalating engagements

Devanagari script

ततः सरथनागाश्वा: समकम्पन्त सूंजया: । मृत्योरास्यमनुप्राप्तं मेनिरे च युधिष्ठिरम्‌,यह देख सूंजयवीर रथ, हाथी और घोड़ोंसहित काँप उठे। उन्होंने युधिष्ठिरको मौतके मुखमें पड़ा हुआ ही समझा

Transliteration

tataḥ sa-ratha-nāgāśvāḥ samakampanta sūñjayāḥ | mṛtyor āsyam anuprāptaṃ menire ca yudhiṣṭhiram ||

Translation

Bấy giờ quân Sṛñjaya, cùng chiến xa, voi và ngựa, đều run rẩy. Họ tưởng rằng Yudhiṣṭhira đã rơi vào chính hàm răng của tử thần.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereupon

सरथनागाश्वाःthose with chariots, elephants, and horses (i.e., charioteers/warriors with these)

समकम्पन्तtrembled

सूंजयाःthe Sūñjayas (warriors of that group)

मृत्योःof death

आस्यम्mouth

अनुप्राप्तम्having reached/come to

मेनिरेthey thought/considered

चand

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhiṣṭhira

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sṛñjayas

Yudhiṣṭhira

chariots

elephants

horses

death (personified as 'the mouth of death')

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 highlights how fear and uncertainty in war can distort judgment: observers may prematurely assume a righteous leader’s defeat or death. Ethically, it cautions against letting panic become certainty and reminds that dharma must be upheld even amid terrifying appearances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Sṛñjaya forces, along with their war equipment and mounts, tremble on seeing Yudhiṣṭhira’s perilous situation. They believe he has effectively entered the 'mouth of death,' implying he is surrounded or overwhelmed in battle.