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Shloka 42

कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य प्रोत्साहनम् — Kṛṣṇa’s Exhortation to Arjuna

Prelude to Karṇa’s Slaying

भारत! प्रभो! रणभूमिमें कितने ही योद्धा एक-दूसरेको अपने और पिताके नाम तथा गोत्र सुनाते थे। प्रजानाथ! नाम और गोत्र सुनाते हुए बहुतेरे योद्धा शक्ति, तोमर और पट्टिशोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको धूलमें मिला रहे थे ।।

bhārata prabho raṇabhūmau katineha yoddhā anyonyam ātmanaḥ pituś ca nāma gotraṃ ca śrāvayantaḥ | prajānātha nāmagotraṃ śrāvayantaḥ bahavo yoddhāḥ śaktyā tomaraiḥ paṭṭiśaiś ca anyonyam dhūliṣu nyapatan || vartamāne tu yuddhe ghora-rūpe sudāruṇe | vyaṣīdat kauravī senā bhinnā naur iva sāgare ||

桑阇耶说道:“噢,婆罗多啊,噢,主君!在战场上,许多武士彼此呼喊,报出自己的名字、父亲之名与族系。噢,人中之王!即便在高呼姓名与氏族之时,无数战士仍以长矛、投枪与战斧相互击倒,把对方掷入尘土。那可怖而极其残酷的战斗仍不间断地延续着;而俱卢军(考罗婆军)却如海上破碎的舟船一般,支离破散,心志沮丧。”

वर्तमानेwhile (it was) going on / in progress
वर्तमाने:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootवर्तमान
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
तथाand
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
युद्धेin the battle
युद्धे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
घोररूपेin (a) terrible form
घोररूपे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootघोररूप
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
सुदारुणेvery dreadful
सुदारुणे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootसुदारुण
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
व्यषीदत्became despondent / sank
व्यषीदत्:
TypeVerb
Rootषद्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
कौरवीKaurava (belonging to the Kauravas)
कौरवी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकौरवी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सेनाarmy
सेना:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसेना
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
भिन्नाbroken / shattered
भिन्ना:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभिद्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)
नौःa boat
नौः:
TypeNoun
Rootनौ
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
इवlike
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
सागरेin the ocean
सागरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसागर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
K
Kaurava army
B
battlefield
Ś
śakti (spear)
T
tomara (javelin)
P
paṭṭiśa (battle-axe)
S
sea
B
boat

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the tragic irony of war: even while warriors assert identity through name, father, and lineage—markers of social order and dharma—the battle reduces them to dust. It underscores how unchecked violence fractures not only bodies and armies but also morale, leading to collective despair.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the fighting has become extremely fierce. Warriors shout their names and clans as they engage, striking each other with spears, javelins, and axes. As the dreadful combat continues, the Kaurava forces become shattered and demoralized, compared to a boat broken apart at sea.