Shloka 12

विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court

Devanagari script

ततो गजे राजनि चैव भिन्ने भग्ने विकर्णे च सपादरक्षे । गाण्डीवमुक्तिविशिखेै: प्रणुन्ना- स्‍्ते योधमुख्या: सहसापजग्मु:

Transliteration

tato gaje rājani caiva bhinne bhagne vikarṇe ca sapādarākṣe | gāṇḍīvamuktiviśikhaiḥ praṇunnās te yodhamukhyāḥ sahasā pajagmuḥ ||

Translation

かくして象王とクル王がともに傷を負い、さらにヴィカルナが象の足を守る歩兵を伴って潰走したとき、ガーンディーヴァより放たれた矢に苦しめられた諸将は、たちまち戦場を捨てて逃げ去った。この場面は、優れた技と決意の前に武の驕りが崩れ、恐れが軍の結束を瞬く間に溶かし去ることを示している。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereafter')

• गजे: in/when the elephant (king) (was ...)
• गजे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: masculine, locative singular

• राजनि: in/when the king
• राजनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, locative singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable

• भिन्ने: wounded/split
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न
• Form: masculine, locative singular (agreeing with गजे/राजनि); past passive participle of √भिद्

• भग्ने: broken/defeated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न
• Form: masculine, locative singular (agreeing with गजे/राजनि); past passive participle of √भञ्ज्

• विकर्णे: when Vikarna (was ...)
• विकर्णे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्ण
• Form: masculine, locative singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• सपादरक्षे: together with (his) foot-guards
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-पादरक्ष
• Form: masculine, locative singular (agreeing with विकर्णे); 'with foot-guards/with attendants protecting the feet'

• गाण्डीवमुक्तिविशिखैः: by arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डीवमुक्तिविशिखैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव-मुक्ति-विशिख
• Form: masculine, instrumental plural

• प्रणुन्नाः: driven/harassed/struck
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणुन्न
• Form: masculine, nominative plural; past passive participle of प्र-√नुद्

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative plural

• योधमुख्याः: chief warriors
• योधमुख्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योध-मुख्य
• Form: masculine, nominative plural

• सहसा: suddenly/at once
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा
• Form: indeclinable (adverb)

• अपजग्मुः: went away/fled
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-√गम्
• Form: aorist (luṅ), 3rd person plural, parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna’s bow)
• Vikarṇa
• Kuru king (unnamed in this verse)
• royal elephant (gaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of battlefield morale: when leadership and key supports (king, war-elephant, guards) are wounded or routed, even prominent warriors may abandon the field. Ethically, it contrasts steadfast kṣatriya resolve with the human tendency toward fear when faced with overwhelming force.

What is happening in the narrative?

A decisive volley from the Gāṇḍīva wounds the royal elephant and the Kuru king; Vikarṇa, along with the elephant’s foot-guards, is routed. Under the pressure of Arjuna’s arrows, the leading warriors suddenly flee the battlefield.