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Shloka 16

Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa

Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory

वित्रासयित्वा तत्‌ सैन्यं द्रावयित्वा महारथान्‌ । अर्जुनो जयतां श्रेष्ठ: पर्यवर्तत भारत,भारत! विजयी वीरोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन उस सेनाको भयभीत करके (सामने आये हुए) महारथियोंको भगाकर रणभूमिमें चारों ओर घूमने लगे

vitrāsayitvā tat sainyaṁ drāvayitvā mahārathān | arjuno jayatāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ paryavartata bhārata bhārata ||

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ഭാരതാ! ആ സൈന്യത്തെ ഭീതിയിലാഴ്ത്തി, മഹാരഥന്മാരെ ഓടിച്ചുവിട്ട്, ജയികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ അർജുനൻ യുദ്ധഭൂമിയിൽ എല്ലാദിക്കുകളിലുമായി സഞ്ചരിച്ചു.

वित्रासयित्वाhaving frightened
वित्रासयित्वा:
Karana
TypeVerb
Rootवित्रासय् (त्रास् + वि, णिच्)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सैन्यम्army
सैन्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसैन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
द्रावयित्वाhaving put to flight / having driven away
द्रावयित्वा:
Karana
TypeVerb
Rootद्रावय् (द्रु/द्रव् + णिच्)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
महारथान्great chariot-warriors
महारथान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अर्जुनःArjuna
अर्जुनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअर्जुन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जयताम्may (they) conquer / let them be victorious
जयताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootजि
FormImperative (लोट्), Third, Plural, परस्मैपद
श्रेष्ठःbest, foremost
श्रेष्ठः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पर्यवर्ततmoved about / wheeled around
पर्यवर्तत:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि + वृत्
FormImperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, आत्मनेपद
भारतO Bharata
भारत:
TypeNoun
Rootभारत
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
भारतO Bharata
भारत:
TypeNoun
Rootभारत
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Arjuna
B
Bhārata (Janamejaya as addressee)
A
army (Kaurava host implied)
M
mahārathas (elite chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of resolute courage and skilled action: when fearlessness and mastery are present, even a powerful force can be scattered. Ethically, it points to disciplined strength used decisively in a just martial context rather than cruelty for its own sake.

Arjuna has overwhelmed the opposing host: he frightens the army, drives away the elite mahārathas, and then ranges across the battlefield, indicating complete tactical dominance and the enemy’s disarray.