Shloka 54
Devanagari script
रथनेमिनिकृत्तैश्न गजैश्वैवावपोथितै: । पादाताक्षाप्यधावन्त साश्षराश्ष हययोधिन:
Transliteration
sañjaya uvāca | rathanemi-nikṛttaiś ca gajaiś caivāvapothitaiḥ | pādātāś cāpy adhāvanta saśastrāś ca hayayodhinaḥ ||
Translation
रथनेमिनिकृत्तैश्च गजैश्चैवावपोथितैः; पादाताश्चाप्यधावन्त सशस्त्राश्च हययोधिनः।
Word by Word
रथनेमिनिकृत्तैःcut off by the rims of chariot-wheels
रथनेमिनिकृत्तैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootरथ-नेमि-नि-कृत्त
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
गजैःby elephants
गजैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगज
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अश्वैःby horses
अश्वैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
एवindeed/also
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
अपपोथितैःthrown down/overthrown
अपपोथितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअप-पूथित
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
पादाताःfoot-soldiers
पादाताः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपादात
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अक्षाःaxles (i.e., chariots with axles broken/axle-men); contextually: chariot-warriors
अक्षाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअक्ष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
अधावन्तran away/fled
अधावन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootधाव्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural
सwith
स:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस
अश्वwith (their) horse
अश्व:
Saha
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
रथाःchariots/chariot-warriors
रथाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हययोधिनःhorse-fighters; cavalry warriors
हययोधिनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहय-योधिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaC
chariot wheels (ratha-nemi)E
elephants (gaja)I
infantry (pādāta)C
cavalry/horsemen (hayayodhinaḥ)W
weapons (śastra)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
The verse highlights the moral and practical breakdown that occurs when fear overtakes discipline in war: even armed warriors abandon their station, and violence becomes uncontrolled, harming many without discernment.
Sañjaya describes a fierce moment in the battle where some fighters are cut down by chariot wheels, others are grabbed and slammed down by elephants, and many infantry and cavalry—though still armed—flee the scene.