Shloka 12

Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall

Devanagari script

आव्न्त्यौ तु महेष्वासौ महासेनौ महाबलौ | इरावन्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य समेयातां रणोत्कटौ

Transliteration

āvantyau tu maheṣvāsau mahāsenau mahābalau | irāvantam abhiprekṣya sameyātāṃ raṇotkaṭau ||

Translation

Dua pangeran Avanti, Vindā dan Anuvindā—pemanah agung, pemilik bala tentara besar, sangat kuat, dan berkobar oleh gairah perang—begitu melihat Irāvān segera maju menantangnya dan bertemu dengannya dalam laga.

Word by Word

• आवन्त्यौ: the two Avanti princes (Vindānuvinda)
• आवन्त्यौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवन्त्य (अवन्ति-देशसम्बन्धी)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• महेष्वासौ: great bowmen
• महेष्वासौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-इष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महासेनौ: having great armies
• महासेनौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-सेना
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महाबलौ: very mighty
• महाबलौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• इरावन्तम्: Irāvant (Arjuna's son)
• इरावन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इरावन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिप्रेक्ष्य: having looked at/seeing
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-प्रेक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• समेयाताम्: they two came together/engaged (met in combat)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (समेति)
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada

• रणोत्कटौ: fierce in battle
• रणोत्कटौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण-उत्कट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Avanti
• Vindā
• Anuvindā
• Irāvān

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya-war ethos: renowned warriors actively seek worthy opponents, and battlefield choices are driven by valor and strategic targeting. Ethically, it reflects how dharma in war can emphasize courage and direct engagement, even as it intensifies violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vindā and Anuvindā, the powerful princes of Avanti, notice Irāvān on the battlefield and immediately advance to fight him, engaging him directly.