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Shloka 33

धर्मराजस्य चिन्ता, भीमसेनप्रेषणम्, द्रोणानीकप्रवेशप्रयत्नः

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Anxiety and the Dispatch of Bhīma; Attempted Breakthrough into Droṇa’s Formation

कौन्तेयेनाग्रत: सृष्टा न्यपतन्‌ पृष्ठतः शरा: । तूर्णात्‌ तूर्णतरं हाश्वा: प्रावहन्‌ वातरंहस:

kaunteyenāgrataḥ sṛṣṭā nyapatan pṛṣṭhataḥ śarāḥ | tūrnāt tūrnataram hāśvāḥ prāvahan vātaraṃhasaḥ ||

Sañjaya dit : Les flèches décochées par le fils de Kuntī, bien que tirées vers l’avant, tombaient en arrière — tant ses chevaux emportaient le char avec une vitesse extrême, plus rapide que le plus rapide, comme le vent lui-même. La scène souligne qu’au cœur du tumulte guerrier, la maîtrise de la vitesse et du contrôle peut renverser l’attente ordinaire de la cause et de l’effet, faisant de l’habileté un avantage moral et stratégique décisif.

कौन्तेयेनby the son of Kunti (Arjuna)
कौन्तेयेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकौन्तेय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
अग्रतःin front
अग्रतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअग्रतः
सृष्टाःreleased/shot
सृष्टाः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसृज्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
न्यपतन्fell down
न्यपतन्:
TypeVerb
Rootपत्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, नि
पृष्ठतःfrom behind/behind
पृष्ठतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृष्ठतः
शराःarrows
शराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तूर्णात्than swift (from swift)
तूर्णात्:
Apadana
TypeAdjective
Rootतूर्ण
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
तूर्णतरम्swifter (more swiftly)
तूर्णतरम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootतूर्णतर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
indeed
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अश्वाःhorses
अश्वाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रावहन्carried/drove along
प्रावहन्:
TypeVerb
Rootवह्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, प्र
वातरंहसःswift as the wind
वातरंहसः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवातरंहस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

संजय (Sañjaya)
कौन्तेय (Kaunteya/Arjuna)
अश्वाः (horses)
शराः (arrows)
वायु (wind, as simile)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how disciplined mastery—here, control of chariot-speed and timing—can reshape outcomes in conflict. It implies that effectiveness in action (karma) depends not only on intent but also on skill, coordination, and presence of mind amid turmoil.

Arjuna shoots arrows forward, but his chariot is driven so rapidly by his horses that the arrows appear to fall behind him. Sañjaya uses this striking image to convey extraordinary speed and battlefield momentum.