Shloka 78

Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)

Devanagari script

ततस्तं विरथं दृष्टवा कृप: शारद्वत: प्रभो

Transliteration

tatastam virathaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛpaḥ śāradvataḥ prabho

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Bấy giờ, thấy người ấy đã mất chiến xa, Kṛpa—con của Śāradvata—(hướng về đức vua) cất lời, trong khi những khúc quanh nghiệt ngã của chiến trận phơi bày cả sự mong manh của kẻ chinh chiến lẫn bổn phận không thể thoái thác của chiến tranh.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable)

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• विरथम्: without a chariot, chariotless
• विरथम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः

• कृपः: Kripa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• शारद्वतः: Śāradvata (son/descendant of Śaradvat)
• शारद्वतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद्वत
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• प्रभो: O lord!
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛpa (Śāradvata)
• prabhu (the addressed lord/king, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the battlefield reality that status and advantage can reverse instantly; a warrior may become chariotless, yet the ethical demand of kṣatriya-duty persists. It also frames a response by a senior figure (Kṛpa), suggesting counsel or reaction shaped by responsibility rather than mere triumphalism.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates to the king that Kṛpa notices a key warrior has become viratha (without a chariot). This observation marks a turning point in the combat situation and sets up Kṛpa’s ensuing words or action in response to that vulnerability.