Shloka 17

Devanagari script

महता रथघोषेण पाण्डव: सत्यविक्रम: । अभ्ययादप्रमेयात्मा निर्जयंस्तव वाहिनीम्‌,सत्यपराक्रमी पाण्डव अर्जुन अप्रमेय आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न थे। वे महान्‌ रथघोषके द्वारा आपकी सेनाको परास्त करते हुए आगे बढ़े

Transliteration

mahatā rathaghoṣeṇa pāṇḍavaḥ satyavikramaḥ | abhyayād aprameyātmā nirjayan tava vāhinīm ||

Translation

Dans le fracas tonnant de son char, Arjuna, le Pāṇḍava au courage infaillible, s’avança. Doué d’un esprit et d’une force sans mesure, il poussa toujours plus avant, renversant ton armée ; et, au cœur des dures exigences de la guerre juste (dharma-yuddha), sa prouesse attesta la vérité de sa parole et de son dessein.

Word by Word

महताby/with great

रथघोषेणwith the roar/sound of the chariot

पाण्डवःthe Pandava (Arjuna)

सत्यविक्रमःof true/proven valor

अभ्ययात्advanced, marched forward

अप्रमेयात्माwhose self is immeasurable/inscrutable

निर्जयन्conquering, defeating

तवyour

वाहिनीम्army, host

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Pāṇḍava

Kaurava army (tava vāhinī)

chariot

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve in dharma-yuddha: steadfast courage and disciplined advance against overwhelming opposition, where true valor (satya-vikrama) is shown through purposeful action rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna, identified as the Pāṇḍava, moves forward on the battlefield with the loud rumble of his chariot, actively defeating and pushing back the opposing (Kaurava) forces.