Shloka 31

Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ

Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response

Devanagari script

परेषामग्रतस्तस्थौ कालचक्रमिवोद्यतम्‌ | एवं तौ सुमहात्मानौ बलसेनाग्रगावुभौ,शत घोड़ोंसे सुशोभित वह रथ इन चार तेजोंको धारण करता हुआ शत्रुओंके सामने उठे हुए कालचक्रके समान खड़ा हुआ। इस प्रकार वे दोनों महात्मा श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन अपनी सेनाके अग्रभागमें सुशोभित हो रहे थे

Transliteration

pareṣām agratas tasthau kālacakram ivodyatam | evaṃ tau sumahātmānau balasenāgragāv ubhau ||

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。敵軍の最前列において、その戦車は掲げられた「時の輪」（死）そのもののように構えて立っていた。かくして大魂の二人—クリシュナとアルジュナ—は、自軍の先頭にあって、戦の奔流のただ中に決意と正しき志（ダルマ）を体現しつつ輝いていた。

Word by Word

परेषाम्of the others (enemies)

अग्रतःin front, before

तस्थौstood

कालचक्रम्the wheel of Time

इवlike, as if

उद्यम्raised, uplifted

एवम्thus, in this manner

तौthose two

सुमहात्मानौthe two very great-souled ones

बलसेनाग्रगावुभौboth going at the front of the army/forces

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Kṛṣṇa

Arjuna

chariot (ratha)

kālacakra (Wheel of Time/Death)

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 the ethical ideal of leadership in dharmic conflict: the foremost warriors do not hide behind others but stand at the front, while the image of the kālacakra reminds that time and death are inevitable—so one must act with resolve and righteousness rather than fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna positioned at the head of their forces; their chariot stands before the enemy like a raised, unstoppable wheel of Time, signaling imminent, decisive engagement in the battle.