Shloka 1

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

हि न [हुक है 7 आस पञ्चपञज्चाशत्तमो< ध्याय: अर्जुनद्वारा कौरवसेनाका संहार और उत्तरका उनके रथको कृपाचार्यके पास ले जाना वैशम्पायन उवाच अपयाते तु राधेये दुर्योधनपुरोगमा: । अनीकेन यथास्वेन शनैरार्च्छन्त पाण्डवम्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! राधानन्दन कर्णके भाग जानेपर दुर्योधन आदि कौरवयोद्धा अपनी-अपनी सेनाके साथ धीरे-धीरे पाण्डुनन्द्न अर्जुककी ओर बढ़ आये

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | apayāte tu rādheye duryodhana-purogamāḥ | anīkena yathā-svena śanair ārcchant pāṇḍavam |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Ketika Rādheya (Karna) telah mundur, Duryodhana beserta para kesatria Kaurava lainnya—masing-masing dengan divisi mereka—maju perlahan menuju putra Pāṇḍu, Arjuna.

Word by Word

• अपयाते: went away, departed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-या (धातु √या)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), 3, 1, परस्मैपद

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• राधेये: in/when Radheya (Karna)
• राधेये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः: having Duryodhana in front (led by Duryodhana)
• दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्योधन-पुरोगम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अनीकेन: with (their) army/division
• अनीकेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• यथास्वेन: each according to his own (division)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-स्व

• शनैः: slowly, gradually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः

• आर्च्छन्त: approached, advanced toward
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ऋच्छ् (धातु √ऋच्छ्/√गम्-अर्थे)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), 3, Plural, परस्मैपद

• पाण्डवम्: the Pandava (Arjuna)
• पाण्डवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Rādheya (Karna)
• Duryodhana
• Pāṇḍava (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dynamics of leadership and morale in conflict: when a prominent warrior withdraws, others must reorganize and advance under a new focal leader. Ethically, it reflects the relentless momentum of war and the way pride and duty can drive armies forward even amid setbacks.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Karna retreats, Duryodhana leads the Kaurava warriors. They advance slowly toward Arjuna, each moving with his own military division, indicating a coordinated approach to re-engage Arjuna in battle.