Shloka 4

Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)

Devanagari script

मध्यद्ले प्रत्यपायाम निर्जिताजातशत्रुणा

Transliteration

madhyadle pratyapāyāma nirjitājātaśatruṇā

Translation

Sañjaya said: “In the midst of the battle-array, we were driven back—overpowered by Ajātaśatru, who had gained the upper hand.”

Word by Word

• मध्यद्ले: in the middle (place/time) (reading uncertain)
• मध्यद्ले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यद्ल
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (uncertain), Locative, Singular

• प्रत्यपायाम्: at the retreat/withdrawal
• प्रत्यपायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यपाय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• निर्जित: conquered/defeated
• निर्जित: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + जि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अजातशत्रुणा: by Ajātaśatru (one whose enemy is not born; Yudhiṣṭhira)
• अजातशत्रुणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजातशत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the reality of reversals in war: even established forces may be compelled to withdraw when confronted by a righteous and capable leader (Ajātaśatru/Yudhiṣṭhira). It implicitly points to the ethical weight of leadership—victory and retreat are not merely physical outcomes but reflect resolve, strategy, and the moral stature associated with a dhārmic king.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield development: in the thick of the fighting, their side was forced to fall back, having been overcome by Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira). The line functions as a concise situational update within the larger Shalya Parva war narration.