Shloka 97

Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)

Devanagari script

शिखण्डिनं तथा ज्ञात्वा हार्दिक्यदशरपीडितम्‌ । अपोवाह रणाद यन्ता त्वरमाणो महारथम्‌,महारथी शिखण्डीको कृतवर्माके बाणोंसे पीड़ित जान सारथि बड़ी उतावलीके साथ उसे रणभूमिसे बाहर ले गया

Transliteration

śikhaṇḍinaṃ tathā jñātvā hārdikyadaśarāpīḍitam | apovāha raṇād yantā tvaramāṇo mahāratham ||

Translation

ਹਾਰਦਿਕ੍ਯ (ਕ੍ਰਿਤਵਰਮਾ) ਦੇ ਤੀਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ਿਖੰਡੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਪੀੜਤ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ—ਇਹ ਜਾਣ ਕੇ, ਸਾਰਥੀ ਨੇ ਘਬਰਾਹਟ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਮਹਾਰਥੀ ਨੂੰ ਰਣਭੂਮੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੱਢ ਲਿਆ।

Word by Word

शिखण्डिनम्Shikhaṇḍin (as object)

तथाthus, in that manner

ज्ञात्वाhaving known/understood

हार्दिक्यदशरपीडितम्afflicted by the ten arrows of Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman)

अपोवाहcarried away, removed

रणात्from the battle

यन्ताthe charioteer

त्वरमाणःhastening

महारथम्the great chariot-warrior

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śikhaṇḍin

Kṛtavarman (Hārdikya)

charioteer (yantā)

battlefield (raṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, duty includes discernment and protection: when a warrior is overwhelmed, withdrawing him can be a responsible act aligned with preserving life and future capacity, and it highlights the charioteer’s role as a guardian and strategist, not merely a driver.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śikhaṇḍin is heavily wounded/pressed by Kṛtavarman’s arrow-barrage; seeing this, Śikhaṇḍin’s charioteer quickly drives him away from the battlefield to safety.