Shloka 346

Devanagari script

तथा वृद्धस्य चरितं कुञ्जरेण विशाम्पते । प्रजानाथ! उस युद्धस्थलमें हाथीके द्वारा बूढ़े राजा भगदत्तका हमलोगोंने अद्भुत पराक्रम देखा

Transliteration

tathā vṛddhasya caritaṃ kuñjareṇa viśāmpate | prajānātha! asmin yuddhasthale hastinā vṛddharājñaḥ bhagadattasya asmābhiḥ adbhutaṃ parākramaṃ dṛṣṭam |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai tuan rakyat, wahai penguasa manusia! Di medan perang ini kami telah menyaksikan suatu keberanian yang menakjubkan—bagaimana raja tua Bhagadatta, di atas gajahnya, memperlihatkan keperwiraan yang luar biasa.”

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• वृद्धस्य: of the old (man/king)
• वृद्धस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चरितम्: deed, conduct, exploit
• चरितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कुञ्जरेण: by/with an elephant
• कुञ्जरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• विशाम्पते: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhagadatta
• elephant (kuñjara/hastin)
• battlefield (yuddhasthala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that dharma and kṣatriya duty are not limited by age: even an elderly king can embody steadfast courage and responsibility in protecting his side. It also underscores the ethical weight of eyewitness narration—Sañjaya reports what was truly seen, shaping the king’s understanding of the war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra and reports that on the battlefield they witnessed Bhagadatta—an aged king—display astonishing prowess while fighting from his elephant, emphasizing the remarkable nature of his exploits.