Shloka 21

Devanagari script

एवं ब्रुवंस्तदा पार्थ: कृष्णमक्लिष्टकारिणम्‌ । प्रत्युद्ययौ रथेनाशु गजं प्रतिगजो यथा

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca |

evaṁ bruvaṁs tadā pārthaḥ kṛṣṇam akliṣṭa-kāriṇam |

pratyudyayau rathenāśu gajaṁ pratigajo yathā ||

Translation

Sambil berkata demikian kepada Kṛṣṇa, pelaku agung yang tak mengenal lelah, Pārtha segera melaju cepat dengan keretanya untuk menghadapi Karṇa—laksana gajah penantang menerjang untuk menandingi seekor gajah.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• ब्रुवन्: speaking
• ब्रुवन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: present active, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• पार्थः: Arjuna (son of Pritha)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अक्लिष्टकारिणम्: one who acts without strain; tireless doer
• अक्लिष्टकारिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्टकारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रत्युद्ययौ: went forth to meet; advanced toward
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-या
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रथेन: by/with a chariot
• रथेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• आशु: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

• गजम्: an elephant
• गजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रतिगजः: a rival/answering elephant
• प्रतिगजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिगज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as; just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Krishna
• Partha (Arjuna)
• Chariot (ratha)
• Elephant (gaja)
• Karna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast resolve in fulfilling one’s dharma in a crisis: Arjuna advances to face a formidable opponent, grounded in disciplined courage and supported by Krishna’s tireless, guiding presence.

What is happening in the narrative?

After addressing Krishna, Arjuna immediately drives his chariot forward to confront Karna. The poet intensifies the scene with a simile: Arjuna’s approach is like a rival elephant charging to meet another elephant.