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Shloka 37

Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements

अद्विसारमयी गुर्वी प्रगृह्ा महतीं गदाम्‌ । अभ्यधावद्‌ गजानीकं व्यादितास्य इवान्तक:,लोहेकी उस विशाल एवं भारी गदाको लेकर वे मुँह बाये हुए कालके समान उस गजसेनाकी ओर दौड़े

advisāramayī gurvī pragṛhya mahatīṁ gadām | abhyadhāvad gajānīkaṁ vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ ||

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಕಬ್ಬಿಣದ ಆ ಮಹತ್ತರ, ಭಾರೀ ಗದೆಯನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡು, ಬಾಯಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟ ಅಂತಕನಂತೆ ಆನೆದಳದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಧಾವಿಸಿದನು.

अद्विसारमयीmade of iron (lit. of non-wood essence)
अद्विसारमयी:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअद्विसारमय
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
गुर्वीheavy
गुर्वी:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootगुरु
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
प्रगृह्यhaving seized / taking up
प्रगृह्य:
Karana
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + ग्रह्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
महतīmgreat, huge
महतīm:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
गदाम्mace
गदाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगदा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अभ्यधावत्ran towards / charged
अभ्यधावत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि + धाव्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
गजानीकम्elephant-corps, elephant-army
गजानीकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगज + अनीक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
व्यादितास्यःone whose mouth is opened wide
व्यादितास्यः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + आ + दा (→ व्यादित) + आस्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अन्तकःDeath (the ender)
अन्तकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
G
gadā (mace)
G
gajānīka (elephant-corps)
A
Antaka (Death personified)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the inevitability of death in war and the terrifying momentum of martial fury. By comparing the attacker to Antaka (Death), it frames battle as a realm where human agency meets inexorable fate—prompting reflection on the ethical cost of violence even amid kṣatriya valor.

Sañjaya describes a warrior seizing a huge, heavy iron mace and charging into the elephant formation. The simile ‘like Death with mouth agape’ intensifies the scene, portraying the assault on the gajānīka as overwhelming and destructive.