Shloka 35

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

प्रगृहीताग्रहस्तेन वैराटिरपि दन्तिना । अभ्यद्रवत राजानं मद्राधिपतिमुत्तर:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

pragṛhītāgrahastena vairāṭir api dantinā |

abhyadravat rājānaṃ madrādhipatim uttaraḥ ||

Translation

प्रगृहीताग्रहस्तेन वैराटिरपि दन्तिना । अभ्यद्रवत राजानं मद्राधिपतिमुत्तरः ॥

Word by Word

• प्रगृहीत: having seized/held
• प्रगृहीत: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अग्र: the front; tip (of the trunk)
• अग्र: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• हस्तेन: with the hand (i.e., trunk)
• हस्तेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वैराटिः: the son of Virata (Uttara)
• वैराटिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दन्तिना: with/ on the tusked one (elephant)
• दन्तिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अभ्यद्रवत्: rushed/charged towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-द्रु (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मद्राधिपतिम्: the lord of Madra (Shalya)
• मद्राधिपतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्र + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तरः: Uttara
• उत्तरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Uttara (Virāṭa-kumāra)
• Śalya
• Madra (Madradeśa)
• Elephant (dantin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya valor expressed as direct engagement with a formidable opponent; ethically, it also implies that courage in war must be balanced with discernment, since rash heroism can endanger oneself and one’s side.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Uttara, riding a tusked elephant with its trunk curled and held close, rushes to attack King Śalya, the ruler of Madra, during the battle.