Shloka 36

Devanagari script

ध्रुवं रथाग्रय: समुपैति पार्थों विद्रावयन्‌ सैन्यमिदं परेषाम्‌ । सिता भ्रवर्णरसितप्रयुक्ति- हयैर्महाहैं रथिनां वरिष्ठ:,निश्चय ही रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कुन्तीनन्दन अर्जुन शत्रुओंकी सेनाको खदेड़ते हुए इधर ही आ रहे हैं। सफेद बादलोंके समान श्वेत कान्तिवाले उनके महामूल्यवान्‌ अश्व श्यामसुन्दर श्रीकृष्णद्वारा संचालित हो रहे हैं

Transliteration

dhruvaṁ rathāgryaḥ samupaiti pārtho vidrāvayan sainyam idaṁ pareṣām | sitābhravarṇarasitaprayukti-hayair mahāhrai rathināṁ variṣṭhaḥ ||

Translation

Surely Pārtha (Arjuna), the foremost of charioteers, is coming this way, driving the enemy host into flight. His splendid, high-bred horses—white and radiant like pale clouds—are being expertly urged on, as he, the best among warriors who fight from chariots, presses the battle forward with unwavering resolve.

Word by Word

ध्रुवम्surely, certainly

रथाग्र्यःthe foremost charioteer/warrior in a chariot

समुपैतिapproaches, comes near

पार्थःPārtha (Arjuna)

विद्रावयन्driving away, routing

सैन्यम्army

इदम्this

परेषाम्of the enemies/others

सिताभ्रवर्णैःwith (those) having the color of white clouds

रसितप्रयुक्तैःurged/controlled by the (reins/commands) with sound (i.e., with calls/whips)

हयैःby horses

महाहयैःby great horses

रथिनाम्of chariot-warriors

वरिष्ठःthe best, the foremost

Speaker

विशोक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna (Pārtha, Kuntīnandana)

enemy army (pareṣāṁ sainyam)

chariot

horses (hayāḥ)

clouds (abhra) as simile

Krishna (implied as charioteer in the received Gītā Press gloss)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights decisive leadership and steadfast resolve in a righteous struggle: a true rathin (chariot-warrior) advances with clarity of purpose, turning the tide by courage, skill, and disciplined control—symbolized by well-driven, spirited horses.

What is happening in the narrative?

Viśoka announces that Arjuna is approaching the current battlefield position, having already driven the opposing troops into retreat. Arjuna is portrayed as the foremost chariot-warrior, arriving with powerful, bright horses under expert control, signaling an imminent escalation in the fight.