Shloka 53

Pāṇḍava-senā-niryāṇa and Vyūha-vibhāga (पाण्डवसेनानिर्याण तथा व्यूहविभाग)

Devanagari script

स पाप: क्षत्रियो भूत्वा अस्मानाहूय संयुगे । मान्यामान्यान्‌ पुरस्कृत्य युद्ध मा गा: कुलाधम,“कुलाधम! तू पापी है! देख, क्षत्रिय होकर और हमलोगोंको युद्धके लिये बुलाकर ऐसे लोगोंको आगे करके रणभूमिमें न आना, जो हमारे माननीय वृद्ध गुरुजन और स्नेहास्पद बालक हों

Transliteration

sa pāpaḥ kṣatriyo bhūtvā asmān āhūya saṃyuge | mānyāmānyān puraskṛtya yuddha mā gāḥ kulādhama ||

Translation

桑阇耶说道：“宗族的败类啊！你虽为刹帝利，却召我们赴战；但你不可踏上战场时，把那些应受敬奉之人置于前列——我们可敬的长老与师长，以及可爱的少年。此等行径，既有罪又卑鄙。”

Word by Word

सःhe

पापःsinful, wicked

क्षत्रियःKshatriya (warrior)

भूत्वाhaving become

अस्मान्us

आहूयhaving summoned/called

संयुगेin battle

मान्यान्venerable (persons)

अमान्यान्not-to-be-honoured, contemptible (persons)

पुरस्कृत्यhaving put in front; having made leaders

युद्धम्to battle; battle

माdo not

गाःgo/come

कुलाधमO disgrace of the family

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

kṣatriya (warrior class)

venerable elders/teachers (guru-jana, implied)

beloved children/young ones (bālaka, implied)

battlefield (saṃyuga/yuddha)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns ignoble warfare: a true kṣatriya must face battle with honor and responsibility, not hide behind or endanger those who deserve protection and reverence (elders, teachers, and the young).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a harsh rebuke directed at an opponent: despite claiming kṣatriya status and calling others to fight, he is warned not to enter battle by pushing forward venerable elders/teachers and beloved youngsters—an accusation of cowardice and adharma in conduct.