Shloka 346

Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)

Devanagari script

तथा वृद्धस्य चरितं कुञ्जरेण विशाम्पते । प्रजानाथ! उस युद्धस्थलमें हाथीके द्वारा बूढ़े राजा भगदत्तका हमलोगोंने अद्भुत पराक्रम देखा

Transliteration

tathā vṛddhasya caritaṃ kuñjareṇa viśāmpate | prajānātha! asmin yuddhasthale hastinā vṛddharājñaḥ bhagadattasya asmābhiḥ adbhutaṃ parākramaṃ dṛṣṭam |

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「民の主よ、人々を治める王よ！ この戦場において我らは驚くべき武勇を目の当たりにした――老王バガダッタが象に乗り、並外れた戦功を成し遂げたのである。」

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• वृद्धस्य: of the old (man/king)
• वृद्धस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चरितम्: deed, conduct, exploit
• चरितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कुञ्जरेण: by/with an elephant
• कुञ्जरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• विशाम्पते: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhagadatta
• elephant (kuñjara/hastin)
• battlefield (yuddhasthala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that dharma and kṣatriya duty are not limited by age: even an elderly king can embody steadfast courage and responsibility in protecting his side. It also underscores the ethical weight of eyewitness narration—Sañjaya reports what was truly seen, shaping the king’s understanding of the war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra and reports that on the battlefield they witnessed Bhagadatta—an aged king—display astonishing prowess while fighting from his elephant, emphasizing the remarkable nature of his exploits.