Shloka 56

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेश: शीघ्रमश्चानचोदयत्‌ । दूरं प्रयान्तं राजानमन्वगच्छज्जनार्दन:,ऐसा कहकर भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णने शीघ्र ही घोड़ोंको हाँका और दूर जाते हुए राजाका अनुसरण किया

Transliteration

evam uktvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ śīghram aśvān acodayat | dūraṃ prayāntaṃ rājānam anvagacchaj janārdanaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus, Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa) swiftly urged on the horses and followed after the king as he rode away into the distance—showing prompt, disciplined action in the midst of war, and steadfast loyalty to his charge.

Word by Word

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

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active, prior action

• हृषीकेशः: Hrishikesha (Krishna)
• हृषीकेशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• अचोदयत्: urged/drove
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद्
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd, singular, active

• दूरम्: far
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर

• प्रयान्तम्: going forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, accusative, singular

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• अन्वगच्छत्: followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-गम्
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd, singular, active

• जनार्दनः: Janardana (Krishna)
• जनार्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa)
• Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• the king (Arjuna)
• horses

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined responsiveness and faithful service: Kṛṣṇa, as charioteer and guide, acts immediately after speaking, embodying steadiness in duty and attentive support of the warrior-king in a crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

After finishing his words, Kṛṣṇa quickly urges the chariot horses forward and follows the king (Arjuna) who is moving away, indicating a rapid pursuit or repositioning on the battlefield.