Shloka 55
द्रोणेन केकय-चेदि-वीरवधः
Droṇa’s engagements with the Kekayas and Cedis
संजय उवाच सद्यः पार्थिव पार्थेन निरुद्धा: सर्वपार्थिवा: । रथस्था धरणीस्थेन वाक्यमच्छान्दसं यथा,संजयने कहा--महाराज! उस समय पार्थने पृथ्वीपर खड़े होकर रथपर बैठे हुए समस्त भूपालोंको सहसा उसी प्रकार रोक दिया, जैसे वेदविरुद्ध वाक्य अग्राह्म कर दिया जाता है
sañjaya uvāca
sadyaḥ pārthiva pārthena niruddhāḥ sarva-pārthivāḥ |
ratha-sthā dharaṇī-sthena vākyam acchāndasaṃ yathā ||
Sañjaya said: O King, at that very moment all the rulers, though stationed on their chariots, were abruptly checked by Pārtha (Arjuna) who stood upon the ground—just as a statement that runs contrary to the Veda is rejected as unacceptable.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses an ethical simile: just as an un-Vedic (acchāndasa) statement is rejected, so too actions or forces that stand against rightful order are to be checked. It frames Arjuna’s restraint of the kings as aligned with normative authority (dharma/śruti), not merely as physical dominance.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna (Pārtha), though on foot (standing on the ground), suddenly halted many kings who were mounted on chariots—highlighting Arjuna’s effectiveness and the sudden reversal of advantage despite the opponents’ elevated position.