Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 16

Adhyāya 112: Bhīṣma-prati Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ

Arjuna’s Forward Drive Toward Bhīṣma

एष पाण्डुसुतस्तात श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथि: । दहते मामकानू्‌ सर्वान्‌ कृष्णवर्त्मेव काननम्‌,'तात! ये श्वेत घोड़ोंवाले पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन, जिनके सारथि श्रीकृष्ण हैं, मेरे सारे सैनिकोंको उसी प्रकार दग्ध करते हैं, जैसे दावानल वनको

eṣa pāṇḍusutas tāta śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ | dahate māmakānūn sarvān kṛṣṇavartmeva kānanam ||

サンジャヤは言った。「『父上よ、あれこそパーンドゥの子アルジュナ。白馬に牽かれ、御者はクリシュナである。彼は我らの兵をことごとく焼き尽くしている。まるで野火が森を呑み尽くすように。』」

एषःthis (man)
एषः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पाण्डु-सुतःson of Pāṇḍu
पाण्डु-सुतः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डुसुत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तातO dear one / O father (term of address)
तात:
TypeNoun
Rootतात
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
श्वेत-अश्वःhaving white horses / white-horsed
श्वेत-अश्वः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्वेताश्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृष्ण-सारथिःwhose charioteer is Kṛṣṇa
कृष्ण-सारथिः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकृष्णसारथि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दहतेburns / scorches
दहते:
TypeVerb
Rootदह्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada
मामकान्my (men) / belonging to me
मामकान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमामक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सर्वान्all
सर्वान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कृष्ण-वर्त्माblack-tracked (fire) / dark-pathed (conflagration)
कृष्ण-वर्त्मा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्णवर्त्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
काननम्forest
काननम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकानन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
A
Arjuna
K
Kṛṣṇa
P
Pāṇḍu
K
Kaurava army (māmakāḥ)
W
white horses (śvetāśvāḥ)
F
forest (kānanam)
W
wildfire/forest-fire (implied by dahate ... kānanam)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how power in war becomes impersonal and sweeping—like fire—while also pointing to the ethical dimension that Arjuna’s effectiveness is inseparable from Kṛṣṇa’s guidance. It suggests that martial success, when aligned with rightful purpose and wise counsel, becomes decisive, yet still carries the grave cost of widespread destruction.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, with Kṛṣṇa as his charioteer and a chariot drawn by white horses, is devastating the Kaurava forces. The simile of a forest consumed by wildfire conveys the speed and totality of the rout.