Shloka 56

Adhyāya 14: Śalya’s Missile-Pressure and the Pāṇḍava Convergence (शल्यस्य शरवर्षम्)

Devanagari script

अर्जुनस्य रथोपस्थं पूरयामासुरञ्जसा । राजन! उनके चलाये हुए सुवर्णभूषित बाणोंने अर्जुनके रथकी बैठकको अनायास ही भर दिया

Transliteration

arjunasya rathopasthaṁ pūrayāmāsur añjasā | rājan |

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, the warriors’ arrows—shot with swift precision—quickly filled the standing-space of Arjuna’s chariot. The scene underscores the relentless pressure of battle and the moral weight of steadfastness under overwhelming assault.

Word by Word

• अर्जुनस्य: of Arjuna
• अर्जुनस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रथोपस्थम्: the chariot-seat/platform
• रथोपस्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथोपस्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पूरयामासुः: they filled
• पूरयामासुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural

• अञ्जसा: easily, readily
• अञ्जसा: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अञ्जसा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Arjuna's chariot
• arrows
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'rājan')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness under extreme pressure: even when surrounded by danger and the signs of enemy force (arrows filling the chariot-space), a warrior is expected to remain composed and continue performing duty (kṣatriya-dharma) without panic or collapse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna is being intensely targeted; the attackers’ arrows, described as swift and (in the gloss) gold-adorned, accumulate so densely that they fill the space of Arjuna’s chariot.