Shloka 94

गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह

Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation

Devanagari script

विरथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठ भीष्मं दृष्टवा रथोत्तमा:

Transliteration

virathaṁ rathināṁ śreṣṭha bhīṣmaṁ dṛṣṭvā rathottamāḥ

Translation

Seeing Bhīṣma—the foremost among chariot-warriors—standing without his chariot, the best of the chariot-fighters were struck with concern and urgency.

Word by Word

• वि-रथम्: without a chariot, chariotless
• वि-रथम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथिनाम्: of the chariot-warriors
• रथिनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठम्: the best, foremost
• श्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• रथ-उत्तमाः: the best of chariot-warriors (excellent charioteers)
• रथ-उत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• chariot (ratha)
• chariot-warriors (rathin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how even the greatest warrior can face sudden vulnerability in war; dharma for the fighters is tested in moments of reversal—whether they respond with steadfast courage, protection of allies, and disciplined resolve rather than panic or cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, renowned as the foremost of chariot-warriors, is seen without his chariot. This sight alarms and galvanizes the leading chariot-fighters, indicating a critical moment in the battle where Bhīṣma’s position has become precarious.