Shloka 77

Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava

Devanagari script

त॑ वाजिपादातरथौघजालै- रनेकसाहस्रशतैर्ददर्श किरीटिनं सम्परिवार्यमाणं शिनेर्नप्ता वारणयूथपैश्वल

Transliteration

tān vājipāda-tarathaugha-jālair aneka-sāhasra-śatair dadarśa kirīṭinaṃ samparivāryamāṇaṃ śiner naptā vāraṇa-yūthapaiś ca

Translation

তখন শিনির পৌত্র কিরীটধারী অর্জুনকে দেখল—অশ্বারোহী, পদাতিক, রথসমূহ এবং গজযূথপতিদের এক বিশাল জালে, শত-সহস্র সৈন্যে চারদিক থেকে পরিবেষ্টিত।

Word by Word

• तं: him
• तं: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वाजि-पादात-रथ-ओघ-जालैः: by masses/networks of horses, foot-soldiers and chariots
• वाजि-पादात-रथ-ओघ-जालैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजि/पादात/रथ/ओघ/जाल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अनेक-साहस्र-शतैः: by many thousands and hundreds (i.e., in countless numbers)
• अनेक-साहस्र-शतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक/साहस्र/शत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular

• किरीटिनम्: the diademed one (Arjuna)
• किरीटिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सम्-परिवार्यमाणम्: being completely surrounded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√वृ (परिवारयति)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Passive

• शिनेः: of Shini
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिनि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• नप्ता: grandson
• नप्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वारण-यूथपैः: by leaders of elephant-herds
• वारण-यूथपैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण/यूथप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वलम्: the force/army
• वलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• किरीटिन् (Kirīṭin = Arjuna)
• शिनि (Śini)
• वाजिपाद (cavalry/horsemen)
• रथ (chariots)
• वारण (elephants)
• यूथप (elephant-leaders)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical pressure of warfare: even a righteous and renowned warrior can be hemmed in by vast opposing forces, testing steadiness, duty (kṣatriya-dharma), and discernment amid chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna (Kirīṭin), described as a descendant of Śini, is seen being surrounded by a massive formation—cavalry, chariots, and elephant-commanders—indicating a tactical encirclement and the intensity of the battle.