Shloka 40
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
Devanagari script
स कुणज्जरस्थो रथिभि: शुशुभे सर्वतो वृत:
Transliteration
sa kuñjarastho rathibhiḥ śuśubhe sarvato vṛtaḥ
Translation
स कुञ्जरस्थो रथिभिः शुशुभे सर्वतो वृतः । सहचरैः परिरक्षितो युद्धे दीप्तिमवानिव ॥
Word by Word
सःhe/that one
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कुञ्जरस्थःstanding/being on an elephant
कुञ्जरस्थः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकुञ्जर-स्थ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
रथिभिःby/with chariot-warriors
रथिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथि
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
शुशुभेshone, was splendid
शुशुभे:
TypeVerb
Rootशुभ्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada
सर्वतःon all sides, everywhere
सर्वतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वतः
वृतःsurrounded, encompassed
वृतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootवृत (√वृ)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaE
elephant (kuñjara)C
chariot-warriors (rathin)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 ethical dimension of warfare as understood in the epic: individual brilliance is sustained by disciplined protection and coordinated support, reflecting collective responsibility within kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya describes a prominent warrior positioned on an elephant, surrounded on all sides by chariot-fighters, appearing splendid due to the protective ring of rathins amid the ongoing battle.