Shloka 40

Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)

Devanagari script

स कुणज्जरस्थो रथिभि: शुशुभे सर्वतो वृत:

Transliteration

sa kuñjarastho rathibhiḥ śuśubhe sarvato vṛtaḥ

Translation

ସେ ହାତୀପିଠିରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ ଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଦିଗରୁ କୁଶଳ ରଥୀମାନେ ଘେରି ରହିଥିବାରୁ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ଭାବେ ଶୋଭିତ ହେଲେ—ସହଚରମାନଙ୍କ ରକ୍ଷାରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମିରେ ତାଙ୍କ ତେଜ ଅଧିକ ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुञ्जरस्थः: standing/being on an elephant
• कुञ्जरस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुञ्जर-स्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथिभिः: by/with chariot-warriors
• रथिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शुशुभे: shone, was splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• सर्वतः: on all sides, everywhere
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• वृतः: surrounded, encompassed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (√वृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• elephant (kuñjara)
• chariot-warriors (rathin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical dimension of warfare as understood in the epic: individual brilliance is sustained by disciplined protection and coordinated support, reflecting collective responsibility within kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a prominent warrior positioned on an elephant, surrounded on all sides by chariot-fighters, appearing splendid due to the protective ring of rathins amid the ongoing battle.