Mahabharata 7.103.5 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 103, Shloka 5

भीमसेन-द्रोण-संग्रामः

Bhīmasena and Droṇa: Containment, Advance, and Recognition

Devanagari script

तावतीत्य रथानीकं विमुक्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ । ददृशाते यथा राहोरास्यान्मुक्तौ प्रभाकरी

Transliteration

tāvatītya rathānīkaṃ vimuktau puruṣarṣabhau | dadṛśāte yathā rāhor āsyān muktau prabhākarī ||

Translation

قال سانجيا: وبعد أن اجتازا كتلة صفوف العربات الحربية وتحرّرا من الطوق، بدا أفضل الرجلين—كريشنا وأرجونا—كالشمس والقمر وقد أُطلقا من فم راهو.

Word by Word

• तावती: so far; to that extent
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत्
• Form: avyaya (quantitative/extent adverb)

• इत्य: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: avyaya (quotative/particle)

• रथानीकम्: the chariot-host; chariot-division (of the army)
• रथानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथानीक
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• विमुक्तौ: freed; released; having escaped
• विमुक्तौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमुक्त
• Form: masculine, nominative, dual

• पुरुषर्षभौ: the two best of men
• पुरुषर्षभौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषर्षभ
• Form: masculine, nominative, dual

• ददृशाते: were seen; appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd person, dual, parasmaipada

• यथा: as; just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: avyaya (comparative particle)

• राहोः: of Rahu
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• आस्यात्: from (his) mouth
• आस्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्य
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

• मुक्तौ: released; freed
• मुक्तौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त
• Form: masculine, nominative, dual

• प्रभाकरी: the two light-makers (sun and moon)
• प्रभाकरी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाकरी
• Form: feminine, nominative, dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Rāhu
• Sun (Sūrya)
• Moon (Candra)
• chariot-host (rathānīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights resilience and the power of right guidance: even when surrounded by overwhelming force, disciplined effort and wise leadership can restore ‘light’—clarity, courage, and hope—just as the Sun and Moon reappear after an eclipse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna have broken through a dense enemy chariot-formation and escaped the encirclement; their sudden reappearance is likened to the Sun and Moon emerging from Rāhu’s grasp after an eclipse.