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Shloka 13

अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa

with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma

तावका: समवर्तन्त पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्‌ । आचार्यका यह वचन सुनकर भूरिश्रवा आदि आपके प्रमुख योद्धाओंने पाण्डवसेनापर आक्रमण किया ।। कृपो भूरिश्रवा: शल्यो द्रोणपुत्रो विविंशति:

tāvakāḥ samavartanta pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm | ācāryakā yaḥ vacanaṃ śrutvā bhūriśravā-ādayaḥ tava pramukhā yoddhāḥ pāṇḍava-senāyām ākrāman kṛpaḥ bhūriśravāḥ śalyaḥ droṇaputro viviṃśatiḥ |

桑阇耶说:大王一方的军士向般度族的战阵推进。听从统帅之令,克利波、部利湿罗婆、舍利耶、德罗那之子阿湿婆他摩,以及毗毗摩湿底等猛将,齐向般度军发起冲击。

तावकाःyour men (Kauravas)
तावकाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतावक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
समवर्तन्तadvanced/turned towards (engaged)
समवर्तन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + वृत्
FormImperfect (Lan), Third, Plural, Atmanepada
पाण्डवानाम्of the Pandavas
पाण्डवानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
अनीकिनीम्army (battle-array)
अनीकिनीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअनीकिनी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
कृपःKripa
कृपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भूरिश्रवाःBhurishravas
भूरिश्रवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभूरिश्रवस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शल्यःShalya
शल्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशल्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
द्रोणपुत्रःDrona's son (Ashvatthaman)
द्रोणपुत्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोणपुत्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विविंशतिःVivimshati
विविंशतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविविंशति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
K
Kauravas (Tāvakāḥ)
P
Pandavas
K
Kripa
B
Bhurishravas
S
Shalya
D
Drona’s son (Ashvatthama)
V
Vivimshati
A
Acharya (contextually Drona)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how warfare amplifies the tension between duty and ethics: warriors, bound by loyalty and command, rush into violence. It invites reflection on whether obedience and allegiance can justify actions whose moral consequences are heavy.

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Kaurava forces advanced against the Pandava formation. After hearing the commander’s instruction, prominent Kaurava warriors—Kripa, Bhurishravas, Shalya, Ashvatthama, and Vivimshati—attack the Pandava army.