Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 5
Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas
Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode
Devanagari script
स गत्वा कुरुसेनाया: समीपं हयकोविद: । पुनरावर्तयामास तान् हयान् वातरंहस:
Transliteration
sa gatvā kurusenāyāḥ samīpaṃ hayakovidaḥ | punarāvartayāmāsa tān hayān vātarāṃhasaḥ ||
Translation
குருசேனையின் அருகே சென்றபின், குதிரை ஓட்டத்தில் தேர்ந்தவன்—காற்றைப் போல் வேகமுடையவன்—அந்த குதிரைகளை மீண்டும் திருப்பி கொண்டு வந்தான்।
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गत्वाhaving gone
गत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
कुरुसेनायाःof the Kuru army
कुरुसेनायाः:
TypeNoun
Rootकुरुसेना
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
समीपम्near; to the vicinity
समीपम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसमीप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
हयकोविदःskilled in horses
हयकोविदः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहयकोविद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
आवर्तयामासturned back; caused to return
आवर्तयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootआवर्तय् (आ + वृत्, णिच्)
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
तान्those
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
हयान्horses
हयान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
वातरंहसःswift as the wind
वातरंहसः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवातरंहस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
K
Kuru armyH
horsesCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Power and speed are most effective when governed by restraint and clear judgment; tactical withdrawal can be as dharmic and necessary as direct confrontation.
A skilled horseman approaches close to the Kuru forces and then turns the horses back, indicating a controlled maneuver—approach, assess, and withdraw—rather than an uncontrolled charge.