Shloka 196

Devanagari script

अभ्यधावन्‌ परीप्सन्त: फाल्गुनं भरतर्षभ | भरतश्रेष्ठ] उस भयानक शब्दको सुनकर पाण्डव महारथी अर्जुनकी रक्षाके लिये दौड़े

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | abhyadhāvan parīpsantaḥ phālgunaṃ bharatarṣabha |

Translation

Sañjaya said: O bull of the Bharatas, hearing that dreadful roar, the Pāṇḍava great chariot-warriors rushed forward, intent on protecting Phālguna (Arjuna). The moment underscores the warrior’s duty of guardianship and solidarity amid the chaos of battle.

Word by Word

• अभ्यधावन्: ran towards / rushed
• अभ्यधावन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धाव्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• परीप्सन्तः: desiring / wishing to obtain
• परीप्सन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-आप्स् (इप्स्)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• फाल्गुनम्: Phalguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• भरतर्षभ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by the address bharatarṣabha)
• Phālguna (Arjuna)
• Pāṇḍavas
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the battlefield context, the verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as protective responsibility: comrades do not abandon a key warrior in danger, but act swiftly to safeguard him, showing loyalty and collective duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a frightening sound is heard (as indicated by the surrounding narration), the Pāṇḍava great warriors surge forward, running toward Arjuna (Phālguna) with the intention of protecting him.