Shloka 9

भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च

Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka

Devanagari script

लाघवं द्रोणपुत्रस्य दृष्टवा तत्र महारथा: । व्यस्मयन्त महाराज न चैन प्रत्युदीक्षितुम्‌

Transliteration

lāghavaṁ droṇaputrasya dṛṣṭvā tatra mahārathāḥ | vyasmayanta mahārāja na caina pratyudīkṣitum ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Tâu Đại vương, thấy sự mau lẹ và tài nghệ của con trai Droṇa nơi ấy, các đại chiến xa đều sững sờ kinh ngạc, và không thể gượng mình đứng ra đối mặt để phản công.

Word by Word

• लाघवम्: lightness; agility
• लाघवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाघव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्रोणपुत्रस्य: of Drona's son (Aśvatthāman)
• द्रोणपुत्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• महारथाः: great warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• व्यस्मयन्त: were astonished
• व्यस्मयन्त: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रत्युदीक्षितुम्: to look back at / to face / to challenge
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-ईक्ष्
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Droṇa
• Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman)
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and speed in warfare can overwhelm even elite warriors, reminding that courage and duty are tested not only by physical danger but also by psychological shock and awe.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the great warriors, upon witnessing Aśvatthāman’s swift martial performance on the battlefield, were astonished and hesitated to confront him directly.