Shloka 33

Devanagari script

ततोडर्जुन: प्राउ्जलिकं महात्मा ततोअब्रवीद्‌ वासुदेवो5पि पार्थम्‌ । छिन्ध्यस्य मूर्धानमरे: शरेण न यावदारोहति वै रथं वृष:

Transliteration

tato ’rjunaḥ prāñjalikaṃ mahātmā tato ’bravīd vāsudevo ’pi pārtham | chindhy asya mūrdhānam areḥ śareṇa na yāvad ārohati vai rathaṃ vṛṣaḥ ||

Translation

Then the great-souled Arjuna, with palms joined in reverence, stood attentive. Thereupon Vāsudeva spoke to Pārtha: “Sever the enemy’s head with an arrow—before that bull among warriors can mount his chariot.”

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

अर्जुनःArjuna

प्राञ्जलिकम्with joined palms (in reverence)

महात्माthe great-souled one

ततःthen

अब्रवीत्said, spoke

वासुदेवःVāsudeva (Krishna)

अपिalso, even

पार्थम्to Pārtha (Arjuna)

छिन्धिcut, sever

अस्यof him, his

मूर्धानम्head

अरेःof the enemy

शरेणwith an arrow

नnot

यावत्until, as long as

आरोहतिmounts, climbs onto

वैindeed

रथम्chariot

वृषःthe bull (heroic one)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Pārtha (Arjuna)

enemy (unnamed)

arrow

chariot

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?

In a battlefield context, dharma includes prompt, decisive action guided by clear judgment. Kṛṣṇa’s instruction highlights strategic timing—acting before an opponent gains advantage—to prevent greater danger and fulfill one’s protective duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna stands with folded hands, attentive, and Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) addresses him, urging him to strike the enemy decisively—beheading him with an arrow—before the foe can mount his chariot and become fully battle-ready.