Shloka 51

Devanagari script

महता रथवंशेन सर्वतः प्रत्यवारयन्‌ । तत्पश्चात्‌ कौरव-सेनाके सभी श्रेष्ठ महारथियोंने विशाल रथसमूहके द्वारा कृपाचार्यको सब ओरसे घेर लिया ।। ५० ई || विस्फारयन्तश्नापानि विसृजन्तश्न सायकान्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | mahatā rathavaṁśena sarvataḥ pratyavārayan | tatpaścāt kaurava-senāyāḥ sarve śreṣṭhā mahārathino viśālena rathasaṁghena kṛpācāryaṁ samantataḥ paryavārayan | visphārayantaś cāpāni visṛjantaś ca sāyakān |

Translation

Sanjaya said: With a vast mass of chariots they checked him from every side. Thereafter, the foremost great chariot-warriors of the Kaurava host, forming a broad chariot-formation, surrounded Kripa, the preceptor, on all sides—twanging their bows and releasing volleys of arrows. The scene underscores how, in the press of war, even revered teachers become tactical centers to be protected or enclosed, and how collective force can override individual prowess.

Word by Word

• विस्फारयन्तः: stretching/expanding (i.e., drawing/straining)
• विस्फारयन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विस्फारयत् (वि+स्फारय्, √स्फुर्/स्फार् caus.)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• श्नापानि: bows
• श्नापानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्नाप (प्रातिपदिक; अर्थः ‘धनूंषि/धनुषाणि’ इति)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विसृजन्तः: releasing, discharging
• विसृजन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विसृजत् (वि+√सृज्)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• सायकान्: arrows
• सायकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Kaurava army
• Kripacharya (Kṛpa)
• chariots (ratha)
• bows (cāpa)
• arrows (sāyaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of warfare: reverence for a teacher (ācārya) persists, yet battlefield necessity turns even venerable figures into strategic focal points. It also illustrates how coordinated collective action (formations, encirclement) can restrain or protect against individual martial power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes a moment where a large chariot contingent checks movement on all sides, and the leading Kaurava warriors form a broad chariot-group to surround Kripacharya, while bowstrings thunder and arrows are shot in volleys.