Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा परिगृहर महागजम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ prāgjyotiṣo rājā parigṛhṇan mahāgajam

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。ついでプラーグジョーティシャの王は、その大象をしっかと掴んだ――戦場の混乱の中、間近に踏み込む大胆な決意であり、危険を退かず正面から受けて立つ武人の覚悟を示していた。

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from there/then')

• प्राग्ज्योतिषः: the king of Pragjyotiṣa (Prāgjyotiṣa)
• प्राग्ज्योतिषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राग्ज्योतिष
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• परिगृहर: seized; took hold of
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ग्रह्
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), 3rd person, singular, Parasmaipada

• महागजम्: the great elephant
• महागजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागज
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Prāgjyotiṣa (kingdom/region)
• the king of Prāgjyotiṣa (Bhagadatta)
• a great elephant (war-elephant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve in warfare: when danger intensifies, a warrior-leader meets it directly with steadiness and courage, embodying duty-driven action rather than hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the king of Prāgjyotiṣa (Bhagadatta) physically takes hold of a mighty war-elephant, indicating a decisive, forceful move in the midst of the battle scene.