Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 27

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

मार्गो गजसहस्रस्य युगपद्‌ गच्छतो वने । यथा भवेत्‌ तथा जज्ञे रथमार्ग: किरीटिन:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

mārgo gajasahasrasya yugapad gacchato vane |

yathā bhavet tathā jajñe rathamārgaḥ kirīṭinaḥ ||

Translation

ଯେପରି ବନରେ ଏକାସାଥି ଚାଲୁଥିବା ସହସ୍ର ହାତୀଙ୍କ ପଦଚିହ୍ନରୁ ଏକ ପ୍ରଶସ୍ତ ଓ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ପଥ ହୋଇଯାଏ, ସେପରି କିରୀଟଧାରୀ ଅର୍ଜୁନଙ୍କ ରଥମାର୍ଗ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କ ଅବିରତ ବାଣବର୍ଷାରେ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଭାବେ ଖୋଲିଗଲା।

Word by Word

• मार्गः: path, track
• मार्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गजसहस्रस्य: of a thousand elephants
• गजसहस्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजसहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• युगपत्: simultaneously
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपत्

• गच्छतः: of (one) going / moving
• गच्छतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• यथा: as, just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• भवेत्: would be, might become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तथा: so, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• जज्ञे: was born, arose, came to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• रथमार्गः: chariot-path, track of the chariot
• रथमार्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथमार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किरीटिनः: of the diadem-wearer (Arjuna)
• किरीटिनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna (Kirīṭin)
• chariot (ratha)
• forest (vana)
• elephants (gaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how disciplined prowess and focused action can ‘clear a path’ through obstacles. In a dharmic frame, it praises the effective execution of a kṣatriya’s duty in battle—skill used decisively to protect and advance one’s rightful cause.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Virāṭa episode’s battle scene, Arjuna (the diadem-wearer, Kirīṭin) drives his chariot through the battlefield. His continuous arrow-shower forces opponents back and opens the way ahead, likened to the broad track formed when many elephants move together through a forest.