Mahabharata · 7.70.23–24
॥
Devanāgarī
धार्तराष्ट्रास् त्रिधाभूता वध्यन्ते पाण्डुसृञ्जयैः ॥
अगोपाः पशवो ऽरण्ये बहुभिः श्वापदैर् इव ॥
कालः संग्रसते योधान् धृष्टद्युम्नेन मोहितान् ॥
संग्रामे तुमुले तस्मिन्न् इति संमेनिरे जनाः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhārtarāṣṭrās tridhābhūtā vadhyante pāṇḍusṛñjayaiḥ ||
agopāḥ paśavo 'raṇye bahubhiḥ śvāpadair iva ||
kālaḥ saṃgrasate yodhān dhṛṣṭadyumnena mohitān ||
saṃgrāme tumule tasminn iti saṃmenire janāḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
धार्तराष्ट्राः त्रिधाभूताःdhārtarāṣṭrāḥ tridhābhūtāḥthe sons of Dhritarashtra, split into three; the Dhartarashtras, split into three
वध्यन्ते पाण्डुसृञ्जयैःvadhyante pāṇḍusṛñjayaiḥare being slain by the Pandavas and Srinjayas; are being slain by the Pandavas and Srinjayas
अगोपाः पशवः अरण्येagopāḥ paśavaḥ araṇye[like] shepherdless cattle in a forest; like shepherdless cattle in a forest
बहुभिः श्वापदैः इवbahubhiḥ śvāpadaiḥ ivaby many beasts of prey; by many beasts of prey
कालः संग्रसते योधान्kālaḥ saṃgrasate yodhānTime devours the warriors; Time devours the warriors
धृष्टद्युम्नेन मोहितान्dhṛṣṭadyumnena mohitānbewildered by Dhrishtadyumna; bewildered by Dhrishtadyumna
संग्रामे तुमुले तस्मिन्saṃgrāme tumule tasminin that tumultuous battle; in that tumultuous battle
इति संमेनिरे जनाःiti saṃmenire janāḥso thought the people; so thought the people
Translation
The sons of Dhritarashtra, split into three, are slain by the Pandavas and Srinjayas, like shepherdless cattle in a forest [slain] by many beasts of prey. "Time devours the warriors bewildered by Dhrishtadyumna in that tumultuous battle" — so thought the people.
Version
4823e19f46d2 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
'Kālaḥ saṃgrasate yodhān,' 'Time devours the warriors' — the people perceive behind the slaughter the working of Kala. The shattered army is 'agopāḥ paśavaḥ,' shepherdless cattle before beasts of prey: without unified command, destruction is certain. It is telling that the people see in the rout not merely Dhrishtadyumna's valor but the hand of Time. The verse teaches that behind the visible victors stands Time-Kala: it 'devours' the doomed, and Dhrishtadyumna is but its instrument; and an army without unity, like a shepherdless flock, delivers itself up to be devoured.