Shloka 33

Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमाश्वासितस्तेन वैराटि: सव्यसाचिना । व्यवागाहद्‌ रथानीकं भीम॑ भीष्माभिरक्षितम्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! सव्यसाची अर्जुनके इस प्रकार सान्त्वना देनेपर विराटकुमार उत्तरने भीष्मजीके द्वारा सब ओरसे सुरक्षित रथियोंकी भयंकर सेनामें प्रवेश किया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | evam āśvāsitas tena vairāṭiḥ savyasācinā | vyavāgāhad rathānīkaṃ bhīmaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Thus reassured by Savyasācin (Arjuna), the prince of Virāṭa entered the chariot-formation—terrible and formidable—guarded on all sides by Bhīṣma.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaishampayana

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

आश्वासितःcomforted, reassured

तेनby him

वैराटिःthe son of Virata (Uttara)

सव्यसाचिनाby Savyasacin (Arjuna)

व्यवागाहत्entered, plunged into

रथानीकम्the chariot-division, chariot-host

भीष्माभिरक्षितम्protected/guarded by Bhishma

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Savyasācin (Arjuna)

Vairāṭi (Prince Uttara)

Bhīṣma

rathānīka (chariot-formation/host)

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?

The verse highlights the ethical and psychological dimension of warfare: fear can be steadied through wise reassurance, and a leader/mentor’s presence (Arjuna) can awaken courage and duty (kṣatriya-dharma) in one who hesitates before a formidable enemy protected by a great elder (Bhīṣma).

What is happening in the narrative?

After Arjuna comforts and encourages Prince Uttara, Uttara advances into the enemy chariot-array, which is described as terrifying and guarded by Bhīṣma.