Shloka 18

वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्

Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit

Devanagari script

ततः: स पुनरारुह्म वारणप्रवरं रणे | अव्यग्रः प्रेषयामास जयार्थी विजयं प्रति

Transliteration

tataḥ sa punar āruhya vāraṇapravaraṃ raṇe | avyagraḥ preṣayāmāsa jayārthī vijayaṃ prati ||

Translation

ତାପରେ ସେ ରଣଭୂମିରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଗଜରାଜ ଉପରେ ପୁନର୍ବାର ଆରୋହଣ କଲା। ଅବ୍ୟଗ୍ର ହୋଇ, ଜୟକାମନାରେ, ସେ ତାହାକୁ ବିଜୟ (ଅର୍ଜୁନ)ଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଆଗେଇ ନେଲା।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः
• Form: Avyaya

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), indeclinable

• वारणप्रवरम्: the best of elephants
• वारणप्रवरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारणप्रवर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अव्यग्रः: unagitated, unflurried
• अव्यग्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रेषयामास: sent forth, urged on
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जयार्थी: desiring victory
• जयार्थी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जयार्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विजयम्: victory
• विजयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति
• Form: Avyaya (preposition)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vijaya (Arjuna)
• foremost elephant (vāraṇapravara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness of mind (avyagraḥ) and determined effort in one’s chosen duty; in a martial context it portrays the kṣatriya ideal of acting without panic while pursuing the intended objective.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior remounts a superior war-elephant and, remaining calm, drives it forward toward Vijaya—i.e., Arjuna—seeking victory in the ongoing battle.