Shloka 246

Adhyāya 107 — बहुयुद्धप्रकरणम्

Multiple Defensive Engagements to Protect Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

अपायाज्जवनैरश्वै: पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्‌ । इस प्रकार युद्धके मुहानेपर द्रोणाचार्यसे पीड़ित हो राजा ट्रुपद पूर्व वैरका स्मरण करते हुए शीघ्रगामी घोड़ोंद्वारा वहाँसे भाग गये

Transliteration

apāyāj javanair aśvaiḥ pūrvavairam anusmaran |

Translation

三阇耶说道：“忆起旧日仇怨，德鲁帕陀王在战阵门槛处被德罗纳阿阇梨逼迫骚扰，便驱使快马从那里逃离。此偈昭示：未解的怨恨与往昔的积怨，足以在本应坚守战责与法度之时，催生惶惧的退却。”

Word by Word

• अपायात्: fled away / departed
• अपायात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-या (धातु √या)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जवनैः: by swift (ones)
• जवनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जवन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्वैः: by horses
• अश्वैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पूर्ववैरम्: former enmity
• पूर्ववैरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ववैर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनुस्मरन्: remembering
• अनुस्मरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√स्मृ
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇācārya (Droṇa)
• King Drupada
• swift horses

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical danger of clinging to past enmity: remembrance of old hostility (pūrvavaira) can cloud judgment and weaken resolve, leading to fear-driven action at critical moments.

What is happening in the narrative?

On the battlefield, Drupada is pressed hard by Droṇa. Recalling their earlier feud, he retreats from the front and escapes quickly using swift horses.