Shloka 58

Devanagari script

ततो गजगतो राजा भगदत्त: प्रतापवान्‌ | अर्जुनं शरवर्षेण वारयामास संयुगे

Transliteration

tato gajagato rājā bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān | arjunaṃ śaravarṣeṇa vārayāmāsa saṃyuge ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the mighty king Bhagadatta, mounted upon his elephant, checked Arjuna in the thick of battle by showering him with an unrelenting rain of arrows.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/thereupon')

• गजगतः: mounted on an elephant
• गजगतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गजगत
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• भगदत्तः: Bhagadatta
• भगदत्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगदत्त
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty, valorous
• प्रतापवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• शरवर्षेण: with a shower of arrows
• शरवर्षेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, instrumental, singular

• वारयामास: checked, held back, obstructed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वारय् (√वृ, caus.)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Neuter, locative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhagadatta
• Arjuna
• Elephant
• Arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: steadfastness and disciplined courage amid danger. Even when confronted by overwhelming force (an elephant-mounted king and an arrow-storm), the ethical frame is the warrior’s duty to stand firm and meet opposition with skill and resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhagadatta entering the fight on an elephant and using a heavy barrage of arrows to check Arjuna’s advance, momentarily restraining him in the heat of combat.