Shloka 52

अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa

Devanagari script

उपारमत तत्‌ सैन्यं सरथाश्चनरद्धिपम्‌

Transliteration

upāramat tat sainyaṃ sa-rathāś ca nara-adhipam

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—అప్పుడు ఆ సైన్యం రథాలతో కూడి నరాధిపుని సమక్షంలో నిలిచిపోయి ముందుకు సాగుట ఆపెను।

Word by Word

• उपारमत्: ceased, stopped
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-रम्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), 3rd, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• स-रथाः: with chariots / chariot(-borne)
• स-रथाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• नर-ऋद्धिपम्: the prosperity/strength of men (i.e., the human force)
• नर-ऋद्धिपम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋद्धिप
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• army (sainyam)
• chariots (ratha)
• king/ruler (narādhipa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid battle, action is not merely momentum; it is governed by judgment. The army’s stopping suggests restraint and deliberation—an ethical and strategic pause where leaders must weigh dharma, consequence, and necessity rather than act blindly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the forces, including their chariots, halt before a ruler (narādhipa). The line depicts a cessation of movement—likely a pause in advance or engagement—signaling a shift in the immediate tactical situation.