Shloka 7

भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः

Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead

Devanagari script

प्रत्युद्ययुस्तावका श्व समेतांस्तान्‌ महारथान्‌

Transliteration

pratyudyayus tāvakāḥ śva sametāṁs tān mahārathān

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Pasukan Kaurava, segera berhimpun, mara keluar untuk menyambut para maharathi—pahlawan kereta perang—itu.

Word by Word

• प्रत्युद्ययुः: went forth against / advanced to meet
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-या (धातु: या)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), 3, plural

• तावकाः: your men; the Kauravas' (troops)
• तावकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• श्वः: tomorrow
• श्वः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्वस्/श्वः (अव्यय)

• समेतान्: assembled; gathered together
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु: इ) → समेत (कृदन्त)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• महारथान्: great chariot-warriors
• महारथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kauravas (tāvakāḥ)
• mahārathas (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how collective allegiance and kṣatriya-duty can propel armies into action with speed and unity; it implicitly invites reflection on how momentum in conflict can override careful ethical deliberation, making discernment (dharma-vicāra) crucial before violence becomes inevitable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava side quickly assembled and advanced to confront the great chariot-warriors previously mentioned, signaling the immediate mobilization and readiness for battle on the Kurukṣetra field.