Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

तस्याभिद्रवतो वाहान्‌ हस्तमुक्तेन वारिणा

Transliteration

tasyābhidravato vāhān hastamuktena vāriṇā

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ— ସେ ଧାଇଁ ଆସୁଥିବାବେଳେ, ହସ୍ତମୁକ୍ତ ଜଳପ୍ରହାରରେ ତାହାର ଅଶ୍ୱମାନେ ଆଘାତ ପାଇ ରୋକାଯାଇଲେ; ସିଧା ବଧ ବିନା କ୍ଷଣିକ ସଂଯମରେ ହିଂସାର ଗତିକୁ ଅନ୍ୟମୁଖୀ କରୁଥିବା ଏକ କୌଶଳ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अभिद्रवतः: of (him) rushing/charging
• अभिद्रवतः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिद्रवत् (अभि + द्रवत्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• वाहान्: horses (draught-animals)
• वाहान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हस्तमुक्तेन: released/shot by the hand
• हस्तमुक्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्तमुक्त
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वारिणा: with water
• वारिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• vāhāḥ (steeds/horses)
• vāri (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid righteous warfare, the manner of action matters: restraining harm through a non-lethal tactic can be ethically significant, reflecting measured force rather than uncontrolled violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combat moment where a charging warrior’s horses are affected—checked or driven back—by water thrown or discharged by hand, interrupting the advance and altering the immediate battle movement.