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Shloka 19

भीमसेन-द्रोण-संग्रामः

Bhīmasena and Droṇa: Containment, Advance, and Recognition

अतीत्य मरुधन्वानं प्रयान्तौ तृषितो गजौ । पीत्वा वारि समाश्र्‌स्तौ तथैवास्तामरिंदमौ,जैसे मरुभूमिको लाँघकर जाते हुए दो प्यासे हाथी पानी पीकर तृप्त एवं संतुष्ट हो गये हों, उसी प्रकार शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन भी शत्रुसेनाको लाँधचकर अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हुए थे

atītya marudhanvānaṃ prayāntau tṛṣito gajau | pītvā vāri samāśvastau tathaivāstām arindamau ||

قال سانجيا: كما أن فيلين عطشين، بعد أن يجتازا أرضًا قاحلة كالصحراء، يشربان الماء فيسكنان ويطمئنان، كذلك كṛṣṇa وأرجونا—قاهرا الأعداء—لما شقّا صفوف جيش الخصم أحسّا باندفاع من الراحة وبِشاشة الثقة.

अतीत्यhaving crossed/overpassed
अतीत्य:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootअति-इ (धातु √इ)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
मरुधन्वानम्the desert (windy waste/region of sand)
मरुधन्वानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमरुधन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रयान्तौgoing forth, proceeding
प्रयान्तौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-या (धातु √या)
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Dual
तृषितौthirsty
तृषितौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतृषित (प्रातिपदिक; from √तृष्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
गजौtwo elephants
गजौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगज (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
पीत्वाhaving drunk
पीत्वा:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootपा (धातु √पा)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
वारिwater
वारि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवारि (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
समाश्रितौhaving resorted to / having reached (it)
समाश्रितौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-श्रि (धातु √श्रि) / समाश्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्त (past passive participle, used actively here), Masculine, Nominative, Dual
तथाthus, in that manner
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
आस्ताम्they two were / remained
आस्ताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआस् (धातु √आस्)
Formलङ् (imperfect), 3rd, Dual, परस्मैपद
अरिंदमौtwo subduers of enemies
अरिंदमौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअरिंदम (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Kṛṣṇa
A
Arjuna
E
enemy army (śatru-senā, implied by context)
E
elephants (gajau)
D
desert tract (marudhanvāna)
W
water (vāri)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches endurance and steadiness: when one persists through a harsh passage (like a desert), reaching a sustaining goal (water) restores clarity and courage. In the epic’s ethical frame, rightful effort in a grave duty can bring inner reassurance even amid युद्ध (war).

Sañjaya describes Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna after they have forced their way past the opposing forces. Their renewed confidence is compared to two thirsty elephants that, after crossing a desert, finally drink water and become calm and satisfied.