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Shloka 5

Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas

Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode

स गत्वा कुरुसेनाया: समीपं हयकोविद: । पुनरावर्तयामास तान्‌ हयान्‌ वातरंहस:

sa gatvā kurusenāyāḥ samīpaṃ hayakovidaḥ | punarāvartayāmāsa tān hayān vātarāṃhasaḥ ||

Als er nahe an das Heer der Kuru herangekommen war, wandte der kundige Pferdelenker—windesschnell—die Rosse wieder um und zog sich geschickt aus der Nähe des Feindes zurück.

सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गत्वाhaving gone
गत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
कुरुसेनायाःof the Kuru army
कुरुसेनायाः:
TypeNoun
Rootकुरुसेना
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
समीपम्near; to the vicinity
समीपम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसमीप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हयकोविदःskilled in horses
हयकोविदः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहयकोविद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
आवर्तयामासturned back; caused to return
आवर्तयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootआवर्तय् (आ + वृत्, णिच्)
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
तान्those
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
हयान्horses
हयान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
वातरंहसःswift as the wind
वातरंहसः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवातरंहस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

K
Kuru army
H
horses

Educational Q&A

Power and speed are most effective when governed by restraint and clear judgment; tactical withdrawal can be as dharmic and necessary as direct confrontation.

A skilled horseman approaches close to the Kuru forces and then turns the horses back, indicating a controlled maneuver—approach, assess, and withdraw—rather than an uncontrolled charge.