Shloka 38

अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च

Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter

Devanagari script

त॑ पृष्ठतो5भ्ययात्‌ तूर्ण शैनेयो वितुदऊछरै:

Transliteration

taṁ pṛṣṭhato 'bhyayāt tūrṇaṁ śaineyo vitudaccharaiḥ

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—అనంతరం శైనేయుడు వెనుకనుండి వేగంగా చేరి, బాణవర్షముతో అతనిని గట్టిగా గాయపరచెను. రణధర్మపు కఠినతలోనూ నిరంతర అనుసరణ యొక్క తీవ్రత అక్కడ దర్శనమిచ్చెను।

Word by Word

• तं: him
• तं: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पृष्ठतः: from behind / at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठ
• Form: Adverb (ablatival usage)

• अभ्ययात्: approached / came upon
• अभ्ययात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-या
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तूर्णम्: swiftly
• तूर्णम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण
• Form: Adverb

• शैनेयः: Śaineya (son of Śini)
• शैनेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैनेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वितुदन्: piercing / striking
• वितुदन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-तुद्
• Form: Present active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्छरैः: with arrows (uच्छर- type shafts)
• उच्छरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• शैनेय (Śaineya/Sātyaki)
• शर (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the uncompromising momentum of war: once combat is joined, warriors act with speed and tactical advantage. Ethically, it reflects the tension between idealized fair combat and the practical imperatives of survival and victory on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Śaineya (Sātyaki) rapidly advances from behind and wounds his opponent with arrows, indicating a forceful pursuit and pressure in the ongoing battle.