Shloka 8

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — इरावान्-आवन्त्ययोः युद्धम्, घटोत्कच-भगदत्त-संघर्षः, मद्रेश्वर-विक्षेपः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Irāvān vs the Avanti princes; Ghaṭotkaca vs Bhagadatta; Śalya checked by the Mādrī twins

Devanagari script

आरोहे पर्यवस्कन्दे सरणे सान्तप्लुते | सम्यक्‌ प्रहरणे याने व्यपयाने च कोविदम्‌

Transliteration

ārohe paryavaskande saraṇe sāntapplute | samyak praharaṇe yāne vyapayāne ca kovidam

Translation

Sañjaya said: “He was skilled in mounting and leaping upon the chariot, in swift retreat and sudden advance, and in the proper handling of weapons—expert alike in driving forward and in withdrawing in battle.”

Word by Word

• आरोहे: in mounting/ascending
• आरोहे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोह
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पर्यवस्कन्दे: in leaping upon/assaulting
• पर्यवस्कन्दे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्यवस्कन्द
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सरणे: in running/flight
• सरणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सान्तप्लुते: in leaping across (a ditch/obstacle)
• सान्तप्लुते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्तप्लुत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सम्यक्: properly, well
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• प्रहरणे: in striking/weapon-use; in combat
• प्रहरणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहरण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• याने: in marching/going; in movement
• याने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• व्यपयाने: in retreat/withdrawal
• व्यपयाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यपयान
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कोविदम्: skilled, expert (person)
• कोविदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोविद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariot (implied by āroha and battlefield maneuvers)
• weapons (praharaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined competence in warfare: true martial excellence includes agility, correct weapon-use, and the judgment to advance or withdraw appropriately—skill guided by strategy rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a warrior’s battlefield proficiency, emphasizing chariot agility and tactical movement—charging, evading, and retreating—along with proper, effective use of weapons.