Shloka 26

Devanagari script

संशप्तकानभिमुखौ प्रयातौ केशवार्जुनौ । वातोद्धूतपताकेन स्यन्दनेनौधनादिना,जैसे मन्त्र, औषध, चिकित्सा और योगके द्वारा शरीरसे रोग दूर हो जाता है, उसी प्रकार जब प्रतिकूल कार्य करनेवाला अअभ्रत्थामा चारों घोड़ोंद्वारा रणभूमिसे दूर हटा दिया गया, तब वायुसे फहराती हुई पताकाओंसे युक्त और जलप्रवाहके समान गम्भीर घोष करनेवाले रथके द्वारा श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन फिर संशप्तकोंकी ओर चल दिये

Transliteration

saṁśaptakān abhimukhau prayātau keśavārjunau | vātoddhūta-patākena syandanena audhanādinā ||

Translation

قال سنجيا: تقدّم كيشافا وأرجونا من جديد نحو السمسپتكة (Saṁśaptakas)، على عربةٍ ترفرف رايتها بالريح ويَتَدَحرج هديرها العميق كالسيل الجارف.

Word by Word

संशप्तकान्the Saṁśaptakas (warriors)

अभिमुखौfacing (towards)

प्रयातौhaving set out / gone forth

केशवKeśava (Kṛṣṇa)

अर्जुनौArjuna (and another, as a pair)

वातby the wind

उद्धूतlifted/flung up (by wind)

पताकेनwith a banner/flag

स्यन्दनेनby/with the chariot

औघनादिनाhaving a deep roar like a torrent

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Arjuna

Saṁśaptakas

Chariot (syandana)

Banner/flag (patāka)

Wind (vāta)

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?

Steadfastness in one’s chosen duty: Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna turn again toward the vowed Saṁśaptakas, suggesting disciplined resolve and commitment to the battle’s demands, supported by clear leadership and purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Kṛṣṇa (as charioteer) and Arjuna advancing toward the Saṁśaptaka fighters. Their chariot’s banner flutters in the wind, and its sound is portrayed as deep and forceful, like a rushing torrent, emphasizing momentum and intensity.