Shloka 77

Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava

Devanagari script

त॑ वाजिपादातरथौघजालै- रनेकसाहस्रशतैर्ददर्श किरीटिनं सम्परिवार्यमाणं शिनेर्नप्ता वारणयूथपैश्वल

Transliteration

tān vājipāda-tarathaugha-jālair aneka-sāhasra-śatair dadarśa kirīṭinaṃ samparivāryamāṇaṃ śiner naptā vāraṇa-yūthapaiś ca

Translation

Sañjaya said: He then beheld Kṛṣṇa’s grandson—Arjuna, the diademed warrior—surrounded on every side by a vast mesh of cavalry, chariots, and elephant-leaders, numbering in many hundreds and thousands. The scene underscores how, in the moral storm of war, even the foremost hero is tested by overwhelming force and the collective weight of opposing hosts.

Word by Word

• तं: him
• तं: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वाजि-पादात-रथ-ओघ-जालैः: by masses/networks of horses, foot-soldiers and chariots
• वाजि-पादात-रथ-ओघ-जालैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजि/पादात/रथ/ओघ/जाल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अनेक-साहस्र-शतैः: by many thousands and hundreds (i.e., in countless numbers)
• अनेक-साहस्र-शतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक/साहस्र/शत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular

• किरीटिनम्: the diademed one (Arjuna)
• किरीटिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सम्-परिवार्यमाणम्: being completely surrounded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√वृ (परिवारयति)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Passive

• शिनेः: of Shini
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिनि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• नप्ता: grandson
• नप्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वारण-यूथपैः: by leaders of elephant-herds
• वारण-यूथपैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण/यूथप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वलम्: the force/army
• वलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• किरीटिन् (Kirīṭin = Arjuna)
• शिनि (Śini)
• वाजिपाद (cavalry/horsemen)
• रथ (chariots)
• वारण (elephants)
• यूथप (elephant-leaders)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical pressure of warfare: even a righteous and renowned warrior can be hemmed in by vast opposing forces, testing steadiness, duty (kṣatriya-dharma), and discernment amid chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna (Kirīṭin), described as a descendant of Śini, is seen being surrounded by a massive formation—cavalry, chariots, and elephant-commanders—indicating a tactical encirclement and the intensity of the battle.