Shloka 286

Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption

Devanagari script

आरुजन्तं रथव्रातान्‌ वजहस्तात्मजात्मजम्‌ | कोई भी रथी रथसमूहोंको नष्ट-भ्रष्ट करते हुए इन्द्रकुमार अर्जुनके उस पुत्रको द्रोणाचार्यकी ओर जानेसे रोक न सका

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ārujantam rathavrātān vajahastātmajātmajam |

Translation

संजय बोले—अर्जुन का वह पौत्र, हाथों में वज्र-सा पराक्रम धारण किए, रथों के समूहों को चूर-चूर करता हुआ द्रोणाचार्य की ओर बढ़ा; उसे रोकने में कोई भी रथी समर्थ न हुआ।

Word by Word

• आरुजन्तम्: destroying, crushing
• आरुजन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुज् (धातु) / आ-रुज्
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (परस्मैपदी), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रथव्रातान्: masses/groups of chariots
• रथव्रातान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथव्रात
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वजहस्तात्मजात्मजम्: the grandson (son of the son) of Vahasta (i.e., Arjuna’s son)
• वजहस्तात्मजात्मजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह (धातु) + अस्त + आत्मज + आत्मज
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna
• Arjuna’s grandson (Abhimanyu’s son, Parīkṣit)
• Droṇācārya
• ratha (chariot)
• rathavrāta (chariot-host/formation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast advance in battle and the moral tension of war: extraordinary prowess can make resistance futile, yet the narrative reminds the listener that such power is directed toward a chosen objective (here, reaching Droṇa), raising questions about duty, loyalty, and the costs of martial resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna’s grandson, fighting with thunderbolt-like force, is breaking through chariot formations. Despite attempts by various chariot-warriors, no one can prevent him from moving toward Droṇācārya.