Shloka 55

अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः

Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment

Devanagari script

गच्छन्तु पदवीं शक्‍्त्या भीमपार्षतयोर्युधि । सौभद्रप्रमुखा वीरा रथा द्वादश दंशिता:

Transliteration

gacchantu padavīṁ śaktyā bhīmapārṣatayor yudhi | saubhadrapramukhā vīrā rathā dvādaśa daṁśitāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Let the twelve well-armed warriors in chariots—led by Saubhadra—advance with all their strength along the path in the battle between Bhīma and Pārṣata.”

Word by Word

गच्छन्तुlet (them) go

पदवींpath, course

शक्त्याwith (their) power/ability

भीमपार्षतयोःof Bhima and (Dhrishtadyumna) the son of Prishata

युधिin battle

सौभद्रप्रमुखाःhaving Abhimanyu (son of Subhadra) as their leader

वीराःheroes

रथाःcharioteers / chariot-warriors

द्वादशtwelve

दंशिताःarmed, equipped

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma

Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna)

Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)

twelve chariot-warriors

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined action in war: coordinated advance under a recognized leader, using one’s full strength in the performance of duty. It reflects the ethic of organized courage rather than reckless individualism.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a tactical movement: twelve well-armed chariot-warriors, led by Abhimanyu (Saubhadra), are directed to move forward along a chosen route amid the fighting involving Bhīma and Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna).