Shloka 663

Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)

Devanagari script

पुनरेवाभ्यवर्तन्त पाण्डवानाततायिन: । दुर्योधनकी यह बात सुनकर सब राजा उसका आदर करते हुए पुनः आततायी पाण्डवोंका सामना करनेके लिये लौट आये

Transliteration

punar evābhyavartanta pāṇḍavān ātatāyinaḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Sekali lagi mereka berpatah balik untuk berhadapan dengan Pāṇḍava, sambil melabel mereka sebagai para penyerang. Mendengar kata-kata Duryodhana, para raja—dengan penuh hormat kepadanya—kembali untuk menentang Pāṇḍava di medan perang.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable)

• अभ्यवर्तन्त: they returned/turned back
• अभ्यवर्तन्त: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (वर्तते)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person plural

• पाण्डवान्: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आततायिनः: assailants/attackers
• आततायिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आततायिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Duryodhana
• kings (rājānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how moral labels (like calling the other side “ātatāyin”—aggressors) can be used to legitimize renewed violence, and how social duty, loyalty, and royal deference may eclipse careful ethical discernment in wartime.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Duryodhana’s words, the allied kings honor him and turn back again to confront the Pāṇḍavas, resuming the battle with renewed resolve.