Shloka 109

Devanagari script

कालवच्चरते वीर: पड्चालानां रथव्रजे । तमप्यासाद्य समरे मित्रार्थे मित्रवत्सल

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

kālavac carate vīraḥ pāñcālānāṃ rathavraje |

tam apy āsādya samare mitrārthe mitravatsalaḥ ||

Translation

ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਉਹ ਵੀਰ ਪਾਂਚਾਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਰਥ-ਸੈਨਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਵਿਚਰਦਾ ਸੀ। ਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆ ਕੇ, ਮਿੱਤਰ-ਵਤਸਲ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਮਿੱਤਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਖਾਤਰ ਅਡੋਲ ਡਟਿਆ ਰਿਹਾ।

Word by Word

• कालवत्: like Time (Death)
• कालवत्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चरते: moves/roams
• चरते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• वीरः: the hero/warrior
• वीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाञ्चालानाम्: of the Pāñcālas
• पाञ्चालानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• रथव्रजे: in the chariot-host/array
• रथव्रजे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथव्रज
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• आसाद्य: having encountered/reached
• आसाद्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral (gerund)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मित्रार्थे: for a friend’s sake
• मित्रार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्रार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मित्रवत्सल: O friend-loving one
• मित्रवत्सल: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मित्रवत्सल
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāñcālas
• Kāla (Time/Death)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast loyalty: even amid the terror of war—where a warrior seems to move like Death itself—one who is mitravatsala (devoted to friends) stands firm for the sake of allies. Ethical emphasis falls on constancy to one’s chosen bonds and duties under extreme pressure.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a fearsome warrior moving through the Pāñcāla chariot formation like Kāla (Death). Despite confronting such a deadly opponent in battle, the friend-loving fighter does not retreat and continues to fight for the sake of his friends/allies.