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Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 25

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

दिशो<नुभ्रमत: सर्वाः सव्यदक्षिणमस्यतः । सतत दृश्यते युद्धे सायकासनमण्डलम्‌

diśo 'nubhramataḥ sarvāḥ savyadakṣiṇam asyataḥ | satataṃ dṛśyate yuddhe sāyakāsanamaṇḍalam |

Vaiśampāyana dit : Tandis qu’Arjuna tournoyait vers toutes les directions et décochait ses flèches tour à tour à gauche et à droite, la course circulaire de son arc et de ses traits demeurait continuellement visible dans la bataille—tel un brandon enflammé qui tournoie—signe d’une maîtrise inébranlable et d’une force tenue par la discipline au cœur du tumulte guerrier.

दिशःdirections
दिशः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
अनुभ्रमतःof (him) moving/whirling around
अनुभ्रमतः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअनु-भ्रम्
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
सर्वाःall
सर्वाः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
सव्यदक्षिणम्left-and-right (alternating)
सव्यदक्षिणम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसव्य-दक्षिण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अस्यतःof (him) shooting/casting (arrows)
अस्यतः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (अस्यति)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
सततम्constantly
सततम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसतत
दृश्यतेis seen/appears
दृश्यते:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent, Atmanepada (passive sense), Third, Singular
युद्धेin battle
युद्धे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
सायकासनमण्डलम्the circular (appearance) of the bow-seat/stance with arrows (i.e., the bow’s circular arc/whirl)
सायकासनमण्डलम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसायक-आसन-मण्डल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Arjuna
A
arrows (sāyaka)
B
battle (yuddha)
D
directions (diśaḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights disciplined mastery in righteous combat: even amid confusion, a warrior’s trained control, steadiness, and purposeful action embody kṣatriya-dharma—power governed by skill and restraint rather than rage.

Arjuna is maneuvering rapidly in all directions on the battlefield, releasing arrows to both left and right in swift succession, so that the motion of his bow-and-arrow arc appears as a continuous circular ring, like a spinning firebrand.