Shloka 17

Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ

After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana

Devanagari script

हताश्चं तु रथं त्यक्त्वा दृष्टवा राज्ञोडस्य पौरुषम्‌ विप्रदुद्राव वेगेन श्रुतायु: समरे तदा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | hatāś ca tu rathaṃ tyaktvā dṛṣṭvā rājño yudhiṣṭhirasya pauruṣam | vipradudrāva vegena śrutāyuḥ samare tadā ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：战马既被射杀，输多由便弃车而走；他见到阎提湿提罗王在战中的英勇，便在那时疾速逃遁。

Word by Word

• हताः: slain
• हताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Active

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Active

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अस्य: of this (one)
• अस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पौरुषम्: manliness/valor
• पौरुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विप्रदुद्राव: ran away swiftly
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु) with उपसर्ग: वि + प्र
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• श्रुतायुः: Shrutayu
• श्रुतायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुतायु (नाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तदा: then/at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Śrutāyu
• chariot
• horses
• battlefield

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Valor and steadfast resolve—especially when aligned with righteous kingship—can demoralize an adversary; in war, ethical leadership and visible courage often decide outcomes beyond mere weapons.

What is happening in the narrative?

After his chariot-horses are killed, the warrior Śrutāyu abandons his chariot; seeing King Yudhiṣṭhira’s prowess on the battlefield, he flees swiftly.