Shloka 41

पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्

The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara

Devanagari script

उस समय अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंकी भारी वर्षसे घायल होकर विश्वामित्रकी सेनाके पाँव उखड़ गये और उनके सामने ही वे सभी योद्धा भयभीत हो सब ओर भाग चले

Transliteration

tadā astrāśastra-vṛṣṭyā bhṛśaṃ viddhā viśvāmitrasya senā pādāḥ pracyutāḥ | tasya purata eva te sarve yoddhā bhayabhītā diśo diśaḥ prādravan |

Translation

ତାପରେ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର-ଶସ୍ତ୍ରର ଘନବର୍ଷାରେ ଆହତ ହୋଇ ବିଶ୍ୱାମିତ୍ରଙ୍କ ସେନା ଭିତ୍ତି ହରାଇଲା ଓ ବ୍ୟୁହ ଭାଙ୍ଗିଗଲା। ତାଙ୍କ ଆଖି ସାମ୍ନାରେ ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ଯୋଦ୍ଧା ଭୟାକ୍ରାନ୍ତ ହୋଇ ସବୁଦିଗକୁ ପଳାଇଗଲେ।

Word by Word

• तदा: then/at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• अस्त्र: missile/weapon
• अस्त्र: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, nominative/accusative, singular (as compound member)

• शस्त्र: hand-weapon
• शस्त्र: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, nominative/accusative, singular (as compound member)

• भारी: heavy
• भारी: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भारी
• Form: Feminine, instrumental, singular (agreeing with वर्षा)

• वर्षया: by a shower/rain (of weapons)
• वर्षया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षा
• Form: Feminine, instrumental, singular

• घायलः: wounded
• घायलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घायल
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular (predicate/qualifier)

• भूत्वा: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), indeclinable

• विश्वामित्रस्य: of Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र
• Form: Masculine, genitive, singular

• सेनायाः: of the army
• सेनायाः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: Feminine, genitive, singular

• पादाः: feet/footing
• पादाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• उखण्डिताः: were uprooted/shaken
• उखण्डिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उखण्डित
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural (past passive participle)

• अभवन्: became/were
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, plural

• तेषाम्: of them/their
• तेषाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, genitive, plural

• पुरतः: in front (of them)
• पुरतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• योद्धारः: warriors
• योद्धारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योद्धृ
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• भयभीताः: frightened
• भयभीताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयभीत
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural (past passive participle)

• भूत्वा: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), indeclinable

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• प्राद्रवन्: ran away/fled
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, plural; with preverb प्र-

Speaker

गन्धर्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Viśvāmitra’s army
• astrāṇi (missile-weapons)
• śastrāṇi (hand-weapons)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights a moral-psychological truth of warfare: when fear overwhelms discipline, even a strong army collapses. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness and leadership with panic-driven flight, reminding that courage and order are essential to uphold kṣātra-dharma in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

A fierce barrage of missiles and weapons wounds and destabilizes Viśvāmitra’s forces. In full view of Viśvāmitra, the warriors lose formation and flee in all directions, indicating a decisive moment of rout.