Shloka 29

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

ततो दश महेष्वासा: पाण्डवानां महारथा: | रक्षार्थम भ्यधावन्त सौभद्रं त्वरिता रथै:

Transliteration

tato daśa maheṣvāsāḥ pāṇḍavānāṁ mahārathāḥ | rakṣārtham abhyadhāvanta saubhadraṁ tvaritā rathaiḥ, rājan |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Then ten great bowmen—mighty chariot-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas—rushed swiftly in their chariots to protect Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), O King. The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of kṣatriyas: loyalty to one’s side, immediate protection of a vulnerable ally, and coordinated action in the midst of battle.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya

• दश: ten
• दश: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश
• Form: Number-word; masculine; nominative; plural (agreeing with महेष्वासाः)

• महेष्वासाः: great bowmen
• महेष्वासाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine; nominative; plural

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine; genitive; plural

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine; nominative; plural

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रक्षा-अर्थ
• Form: Avyaya (accusative used adverbially: 'for the purpose of')

• अभ्यधावन्: ran up, rushed
• अभ्यधावन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धाव्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ); parasmaipada; 3rd person; plural

• सौभद्रम्: Abhimanyu (son of Subhadrā)
• सौभद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभद्र
• Form: Masculine; accusative; singular

• त्वरिताः: hastened, swift
• त्वरिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally; masculine; nominative; plural (agreeing with the subject)

• रथैः: by/with chariots
• रथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine; instrumental; plural

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine; vocative; singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Pāṇḍavas
• Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)
• Chariots (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma in practice: when an ally is endangered, righteous conduct demands swift, united protection. It also reflects the ethical ideal of solidarity—placing the safety of one’s comrade above hesitation or personal risk.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the battle account narrated by Sañjaya to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, ten elite Pāṇḍava-side chariot-warriors rapidly drive toward Abhimanyu (Saubhadra) to guard him, indicating an urgent tactical response to a threat against him.