Mahabharata 7.116.10 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 10

Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)

Devanagari script

बहुभि: पार्थिवैर्गुप्तमस्मत्प्रियचिकीर्षुभि: । अस्मानभिसृतै: कामात्‌ सबलै: सपदानुगै:

Transliteration

bahubhiḥ pārthivair guptam asmat-priya-cikīrṣubhiḥ | asmān abhisṛtaiḥ kāmāt sa-balaiḥ sa-padānugaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: “Họ được che chở bởi nhiều vị vua, những người khát khao làm điều vừa lòng chúng ta; và vì lòng ham muốn ấy, họ tiến đến phía chúng ta—kéo theo binh lực và đoàn tùy tùng sát gót.”

Word by Word

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पार्थिवैः: by kings
• पार्थिवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गुप्तम्: guarded/protected
• गुप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अस्मत्: of us/our
• अस्मत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• प्रिय: what is dear (to us)
• प्रिय: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चिकीर्षुभिः: by those wishing to do (it)
• चिकीर्षुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकीर्षु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Plural

• अभिसृतैः: by those who have approached/advanced
• अभिसृतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिसृत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कामात्: out of desire/at will
• कामात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सबलैः: with forces/with troops
• सबलैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सबल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सपदानुगैः: with followers/attendants (those who go after their steps)
• सपदानुगैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-पदानुग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• पार्थिव (kings/rulers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how kāma (desire/impulse) can become a primary driver of action in war: even ‘service’ to one’s side (doing what is pleasing) may mask passion-driven aggression. Ethically, it invites scrutiny of motives—whether loyalty is guided by discernment or by desire.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a group, shielded by many kings intent on pleasing ‘us’ (the Kaurava side), advanced upon the opposing party with their troops and attendants. It depicts a coordinated approach/assault under strong protection and support.