Shloka 22

अध्याय ९१ — शैनेयस्य गजानीकभेदनं जलसंधवधश्च

Chapter 91: Sātyaki breaks the elephant array and slays Jalasaṃdha

Devanagari script

यत्तस्य घटमानस्य क्षिप्रं विक्षिपत: शरान्‌ | लाघवात्‌ पाण्डुपुत्रस्य व्यस्मयन्त परे जना:

Transliteration

yat tasya ghaṭamānasya kṣipraṁ vikṣipataḥ śarān | lāghavāt pāṇḍuputrasya vyasmayanta pare janāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: As that son of Pāṇḍu pressed on in combat, swiftly releasing his arrows in rapid succession, the opposing warriors were struck with astonishment at his sheer lightness of hand and speed—an excellence that, in the midst of war, signals disciplined mastery rather than mere fury.

Word by Word

• यत्: that (which)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• घटमानस्य: of (him) striving/endeavouring
• Type: Verb
• Root: घटमान
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र

• विक्षिपतः: of (him) scattering/casting
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्षिप्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• लाघवात्: due to swiftness/lightness
• लाघवात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाघव
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• पाण्डु-पुत्रस्य: of the son of Pāṇḍu (Pāṇḍava)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• व्यस्मयन्त: were astonished
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-स्मि
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• परे: the others/opponents
• परे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍuputra (a Pāṇḍava)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that true prowess in war is marked by controlled agility and practiced skill (lāghava), inspiring awe even in opponents—suggesting disciplined mastery aligned with kṣatriya duty rather than uncontrolled violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a Pāṇḍava vigorously engaging in battle and rapidly shooting arrows; the enemy warriors, witnessing the speed and lightness of his action, are astonished.