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Shloka 5

रथा रथैरिभैर्नागास्तथैव भरतर्षभ । संसक्ताश्च वियुक्ताश्न योधा: संन्यपतन्‌ रणे,भरतश्रेष्ठ! रथोंसे रथ और हाथियोंसे हाथी गुँथ जाते थे। इस प्रकार कभी सटकर और कभी विलग होकर वे योद्धा रणभूमिमें गिरने लगे

sañjaya uvāca |

rathā rathair ibhair nāgās tathaiva bharatarṣabha |

saṃsaktāś ca viyuktāś ca yodhāḥ saṃnyapatan raṇe ||

Wahai yang termulia di antara Bharata, kereta-kereta perang bertubrukan dengan kereta, dan gajah dengan gajah. Maka para kesatria—kadang terkunci rapat dalam laga, kadang terlepas dan tercerai—terus berguguran di medan perang.

रथाःchariots
रथाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रथैःwith/by chariots
रथैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
इभैःwith elephants
इभैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootइभ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
नागाःelephants
नागाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तथाthus/so
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas
भरतर्षभ:
TypeNoun
Rootभरत-ऋषभ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
संसक्ताःclinging/locked (in close combat)
संसक्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसंसक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वियुक्ताःseparated/disengaged
वियुक्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवियुक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
योधाःwarriors
योधाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयोध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
संन्यपतन्fell down / were falling
संन्यपतन्:
TypeVerb
Rootपत्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
रणेin battle
रणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bharata lineage (address: bharatarṣabha)
C
chariots (ratha)
E
elephants (ibha/nāga)
B
battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the brutal instability of war: formations and engagements constantly shift—contact and separation alternate—yet the outcome is repeated falling and death. It implicitly highlights impermanence and the grave cost that accompanies kṣatriya warfare.

Sañjaya describes the intensity of the fighting: chariots crash into chariots and elephants clash with elephants. Warriors repeatedly engage at close quarters, then break apart, and many are struck down on the battlefield.