Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

तस्याभिद्रवतो वाहान्‌ हस्तमुक्तेन वारिणा

Transliteration

tasyābhidravato vāhān hastamuktena vāriṇā

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。彼が突進すると、その馬は手から放たれた水に打たれて一瞬制せられた。直接の殺戮によらず暴威を束の間抑えるその策は、戦のさなかにも戦術的な自制が害の行方を変え得ることを示していた。

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अभिद्रवतः: of (him) rushing/charging
• अभिद्रवतः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिद्रवत् (अभि + द्रवत्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• वाहान्: horses (draught-animals)
• वाहान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हस्तमुक्तेन: released/shot by the hand
• हस्तमुक्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्तमुक्त
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वारिणा: with water
• वारिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• vāhāḥ (steeds/horses)
• vāri (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid righteous warfare, the manner of action matters: restraining harm through a non-lethal tactic can be ethically significant, reflecting measured force rather than uncontrolled violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combat moment where a charging warrior’s horses are affected—checked or driven back—by water thrown or discharged by hand, interrupting the advance and altering the immediate battle movement.