Shloka 7

तदुदीर्णरथाश्वेभं पत्तिप्रवरसंकुलम्‌ | कुलालचक्रवद्‌ भ्रान्तं पाण्ड्येना भ्याहतं बलात्‌,कौरव-सेनामें रथ, घोड़े और हाथियोंकी संख्या बढ़ी-चढ़ी थी, श्रेष्ठ पैदल सैनिकोंसे भी वह सेना भरी हुई थी, तथापि पाण्ड्यनरेशके द्वारा बलपूर्वक आहत होकर वह कुम्हारके चाककी भाँति चक्कर काटने लगी

tadudīrṇarathāśvebhaṃ pattipravarasaṅkulam | kulālacakravad bhrāntaṃ pāṇḍyenābhyāhataṃ balāt ||

Sañjaya berkata: Walaupun bala tentera Kaurava membengkak dengan kereta perang, kuda dan gajah, serta sesak dengan infantri pilihan, namun apabila dihentam kuat oleh raja Pāṇḍya, ia mula berpusing-pusing seperti roda tukang tembikar. Gambaran ini menyatakan bahawa bilangan dan kekuatan, apabila berhadapan dengan serangan balas yang terarah dan berlandas dharma, boleh runtuh menjadi kekacauan dan hilang tertib di medan perang.

तत्that (army)
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
उदीर्ण-रथ-अश्व-इभम्having increased chariots, horses, and elephants
उदीर्ण-रथ-अश्व-इभम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootउदीर्ण + रथ + अश्व + इभ
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
पत्ति-प्रवर-संकुलम्crowded with excellent foot-soldiers
पत्ति-प्रवर-संकुलम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपत्ति + प्रवर + संकुल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
कुलाल-चक्रवत्like a potter's wheel
कुलाल-चक्रवत्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकुलाल + चक्र + वत्
भ्रान्तम्whirling/going in circles
भ्रान्तम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभ्रान्त
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
पाण्ड्येनby the Pāṇḍya king
पाण्ड्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्ड्य
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
अभ्याहतम्struck/assailed
अभ्याहतम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअभि + आ + √हन्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
बलात्forcibly/with force
बलात्:
Karana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootबल

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
P
Pāṇḍya (the Pāṇḍya king)
K
Kaurava army
C
chariots
H
horses
E
elephants
I
infantry
P
potter’s wheel

Educational Q&A

Numerical strength and impressive military assets do not guarantee stability in war; when leadership and formation are broken by a powerful assault, even a vast force can devolve into confusion—symbolized by the potter’s wheel. The verse highlights the ethical and strategic value of disciplined action over mere magnitude.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava army, despite being heavily equipped and packed with elite troops, is forcefully struck by the Pāṇḍya king and begins to spin and reel in disarray, like a potter’s wheel set rapidly turning.