Shloka 103
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
Devanagari script
पलायतां दिशस्तेषां स्वानप्युत्सृज्य बान्धवान्
Transliteration
palāyatāṁ diśas teṣāṁ svān apy utsṛjya bāndhavān
Translation
三阇耶说道：他们四散奔逃，甚至抛下自己人和亲族——在战争的混乱中，恐慌压倒了忠诚与本分。
Word by Word
पलायताम्let (them) flee / may they run away
पलायताम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपलाय् (धातु)
Formलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम, बहुवचनम्
दिशःdirections
दिशः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदिश् (प्रातिपदिक: दिशा)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्
तेषाम्of them / their
तेषाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्
स्वान्their own (people/kinsmen)
स्वान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्
अपिeven, also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
उत्सृज्यhaving abandoned / leaving behind
उत्सृज्य:
Karana
TypeVerb
Rootउत् + सृज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि (active sense)
बान्धवान्kinsmen, relatives
बान्धवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
संजय (Sañjaya)द
दिशः (the directions/quarters)स
स्वान् (their own people)ब
बान्धवान् (kinsmen/relatives)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can eclipse dharma: in moments of terror, people may forsake even their closest bonds. Ethically, it warns that panic erodes loyalty and responsibility, revealing the fragility of social and familial duties under extreme violence.
Sañjaya describes a scene of rout and confusion: combatants scatter in every direction, and in their flight they abandon their own companions and relatives. The line underscores the breakdown of order and solidarity during the turmoil of the Sauptika events.