Shloka 25

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake

Devanagari script

तांस्तथा पुरतो दृष्टवा सौबलस्य पदानुगान्‌

Transliteration

tāṁs tathā purato dṛṣṭvā saubalasya padānugān

Translation

三阇耶说道：见他们就在前方——那些追随苏巴拉之子脚步的人——他望见那一派在沙昆尼的引领下推进；这情景提醒人们：在战争之中，盲从狡黠的向导，足以把武士拖入毁灭性的抉择。

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: thus/in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• पुरतः: in front/ahead
• पुरतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for absolutive)

• सौबलस्य: of Saubala (Shakuni)
• सौबलस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौबल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पदानुगान्: followers (those who go after his footsteps)
• पदानुगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदानुग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Saubala (Śakuni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral risk of uncritical imitation: following a leader’s ‘footsteps’—especially one known for cunning—can entangle people in ethically compromised actions and destructive outcomes in the pressure of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a group is seen directly ahead, identified as those aligned with and acting under Saubala (Śakuni), indicating the presence and movement of Śakuni’s adherents on the battlefield.