Shloka 77

युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya

Devanagari script

तद्‌ दृष्टवा महदाश्षर्य प्रत्यक्ष स्वर्गलिप्सया

Transliteration

tad dṛṣṭvā mahad āścaryaṃ pratyakṣaṃ svargalipsayā

Translation

三阇耶说道：见到那宏大而惊人的奇观——仿佛天界亲自显现在眼前——怀着求取天界的渴望，诸战士便愈发奋勇向前。

Word by Word

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active, prior action (having seen)

• महत्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• आश्चर्यम्: wonder, marvel
• आश्चर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्चर्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• प्रत्यक्षम्: directly visible, before the eyes
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• स्वर्गलिप्सया: by/with the desire for heaven
• स्वर्गलिप्सया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्गलिप्सा
• Form: feminine, instrumental, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Svarga (heaven)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the desire for heavenly reward can powerfully motivate action in war: when glory and the promise of svarga appear ‘visible,’ warriors may pursue perilous deeds, raising ethical tension between true dharma and reward-seeking.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a striking, awe-inspiring spectacle has occurred on the battlefield—so vivid it seems like heaven before the eyes—and that this sight, coupled with the yearning for svarga, spurs the combatants’ resolve.