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Shloka 18

Adhyāya 112: Bhīṣma-prati Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ

Arjuna’s Forward Drive Toward Bhīṣma

यथा पशुगणान्‌ पाल: संकालयति कानने । तथेदं मापकं सैन्यं काल्यते शत्रुतापन,'शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले पितामह! जैसे चरवाहा जंगलमें पशुओंको हाँकता है, उसी प्रकार मेरी यह सेना अर्जुनके द्वारा हाँकी जा रही है

yathā paśugaṇān pālaḥ saṅkālayati kānane | tathedaṃ māpakaṃ sainyaṃ kālyate śatrutāpana ||

ഹേ ശത്രുതാപകനായ പിതാമഹാ! കാട്ടിൽ ഇടയൻ മൃഗക്കൂട്ടത്തെ എങ്ങനെ ഓടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോകുന്നുവോ, അതുപോലെ അർജുനൻ നമ്മുടെ ഈ മഹാസൈന്യത്തെ ഓടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നു।

यथाjust as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
पशु-गणान्herds of animals
पशु-गणान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपशुगण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
पालःa herdsman
पालः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
संकालयतिdrives together, herds
संकालयति:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्+कल्
FormPresent, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular
काननेin the forest
कानने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकानन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
तथाso, in the same way
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ममof me, my
मम:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
इदम्this
इदम्:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
सैन्यम्army
सैन्यम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसैन्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
काल्यतेis being driven/herded
काल्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootकल्
FormPresent, Indicative, Atmanepada (Passive), Third, Singular
शत्रु-तापनO tormentor of foes
शत्रु-तापन:
TypeNoun
Rootशत्रुतापन
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Arjuna
B
Bhīṣma (implied by epithet śatrutāpana)
F
forest (kānana)
A
army (sainya)
H
herdsman (pāla)
H
herd of animals (paśugaṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how superior skill and resolve can dominate a larger force: numerical strength without cohesion and leadership becomes vulnerable, and a disciplined warrior can ‘drive’ an army as easily as a herdsman drives animals.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s prowess and maneuvering are forcing the Kaurava host to yield ground and move as he compels—likening the army’s movement to a herd being driven through a forest.