Shloka 3

Devanagari script

एक एव च बीभत्सु: सोमकावयवै: सह । मत्स्यैरन्यैश्व संधाय कौरवान्‌ संन्यवर्तत,अकेले अर्जुन ही सोमकोंकी टुकड़ियों, मत्स्यदेशीय योद्धाओं तथा अन्य लोगोंको साथ लेकर कौरवोंका सामना करनेके लिये लौटे

Transliteration

eka eva ca bībhatsuḥ somakāvayavaiḥ saha | matsyair anyaiś ca sandhāya kauravān saṃnyavartata ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Arjuna—terrible to his foes—alone, yet supported by the Somaka detachments, the warriors of Matsya, and other allies, formed a compact array and turned back to confront the Kauravas.

Word by Word

एकःalone, single

एवindeed, only

चand

बीभत्सुःBībhatsu (Arjuna)

सोमकावयवैःwith the divisions/contingents of the Somakas

सहtogether with

मत्स्यैःwith the Matsyas

अन्यैःwith others

चand

संधायhaving joined/arrayed (together)

कौरवान्the Kauravas

संन्यवर्ततturned back/returned (to face)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna (Bībhatsu)

Somakas

Matsyas

Kauravas

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 steadfast courage and strategic unity: even when a hero is described as ‘alone,’ effectiveness arises from disciplined coordination with allies, suggesting that righteous resolve (dharma-oriented purpose) must be supported by organized collective effort in the chaos of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, accompanied by Somaka contingents, Matsya warriors, and other supporters, regrouped into an array and turned back to confront the Kaurava forces—indicating a renewed engagement rather than retreat.