Shloka 286

Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption

Devanagari script

आरुजन्तं रथव्रातान्‌ वजहस्तात्मजात्मजम्‌ | कोई भी रथी रथसमूहोंको नष्ट-भ्रष्ट करते हुए इन्द्रकुमार अर्जुनके उस पुत्रको द्रोणाचार्यकी ओर जानेसे रोक न सका

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ārujantam rathavrātān vajahastātmajātmajam |

Translation

قال سنجيا: لما اندفع حفيد أرجونا—وفي يديه بأسٌ كالصاعقة، كالفَجْرَةِ (الفَجْرَة/الفَجْرَة: الفَجْرَة؟) بل كقوة الفَجْرَةِ الفَجْرَةِ، كقوة الفَجْرَةِ (الفَجْرَة)؛ كقوة الفَجْرَةِ—يحطّم جموع العربات الحربية تحطيماً، لم يستطع فارسٌ واحد أن يمنعه من التقدّم نحو دروناآتشاريّا. ويُبرز المشهد أنّه في سَوْرة القتال قد يُغلب حتى المحاربون المجرَّبون إذا اندفع بطلٌ مؤيَّدٌ بالعناية الإلهية بعزمٍ لا يتزعزع.

Word by Word

• आरुजन्तम्: destroying, crushing
• आरुजन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुज् (धातु) / आ-रुज्
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (परस्मैपदी), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रथव्रातान्: masses/groups of chariots
• रथव्रातान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथव्रात
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वजहस्तात्मजात्मजम्: the grandson (son of the son) of Vahasta (i.e., Arjuna’s son)
• वजहस्तात्मजात्मजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह (धातु) + अस्त + आत्मज + आत्मज
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Arjuna’s grandson (Abhimanyu’s son, Parīkṣit)
• Droṇācārya
• ratha (chariot)
• rathavrāta (chariot-host/formation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast advance in battle and the moral tension of war: extraordinary prowess can make resistance futile, yet the narrative reminds the listener that such power is directed toward a chosen objective (here, reaching Droṇa), raising questions about duty, loyalty, and the costs of martial resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna’s grandson, fighting with thunderbolt-like force, is breaking through chariot formations. Despite attempts by various chariot-warriors, no one can prevent him from moving toward Droṇācārya.