Shloka 74

अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च

Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter

Devanagari script

रथिशि: सादिभि: सूतै: पादातैरवाजिभिग्गजै:

Transliteration

rathiśiḥ sādibhiḥ sūtaiḥ pādātair avājibhir gajaiḥ

Translation

সঞ্জয় বললেন—রণক্ষেত্র রথী, অশ্বারোহী, সারথি, পদাতিক, আর ঘোড়া ও হাতিতে পরিপূর্ণ হয়ে উঠল।

Word by Word

• रथिभिः: by/with chariot-warriors
• रथिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सादिभिः: by/with riders (mounted men)
• सादिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सादि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सूतैः: by/with charioteers
• सूतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पादातैः: by/with foot-soldiers
• पादातैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादात
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अवाजिभिः: by/with horsemen (cavalry)
• अवाजिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवाजि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गजैः: by/with elephants
• गजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• rathin (chariot-warriors)
• sūta (charioteers)
• pādāta (infantry)
• aśva (horses)
• gaja (elephants)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how war engulfs all strata—elite chariot-fighters, common infantry, and even animals—highlighting the ethical gravity of conflict: once unleashed, violence draws everyone into its consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the composition and density of forces on the battlefield, listing the principal arms of the army—chariots, cavalry/mounted troops, infantry, charioteers, horses, and elephants—to convey the scale and intensity of the engagement.