Shloka 40

Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)

Devanagari script

स कुणज्जरस्थो रथिभि: शुशुभे सर्वतो वृत:

Transliteration

sa kuñjarastho rathibhiḥ śuśubhe sarvato vṛtaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Stationed upon an elephant and encircled on every side by skilled chariot-warriors, he shone forth—protected by his companions amid the press of battle, a vivid image of martial order and collective duty in war.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुञ्जरस्थः: standing/being on an elephant
• कुञ्जरस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुञ्जर-स्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथिभिः: by/with chariot-warriors
• रथिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शुशुभे: shone, was splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• सर्वतः: on all sides, everywhere
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• वृतः: surrounded, encompassed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (√वृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• elephant (kuñjara)
• chariot-warriors (rathin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical dimension of warfare as understood in the epic: individual brilliance is sustained by disciplined protection and coordinated support, reflecting collective responsibility within kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a prominent warrior positioned on an elephant, surrounded on all sides by chariot-fighters, appearing splendid due to the protective ring of rathins amid the ongoing battle.