Shloka 72

अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः

Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon

Devanagari script

ततो वृन्देन महता रथानां रथयूथप: । आचार्यपुत्र: सहसा पाण्डवं पर्यवारयत्‌

Transliteration

tato vṛndena mahatā rathānāṃ rathayūthapaḥ | ācāryaputraḥ sahasā pāṇḍavaṃ paryavārayat ||

Translation

అనంతరం రథయోధుల యూథపతి అయిన ఆచార్యపుత్రుడు అశ్వత్థామా, మహత్తర రథసమూహంతో అకస్మాత్తుగా వచ్చి పాండవుణ్ని నాలుగు వైపులా చుట్టుముట్టాడు.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• वृन्देन: by/with a group
• वृन्देन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्द
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• महतā: great, large
• महतā: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• रथानाम्: of chariots
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• रथयूथपः: leader of a chariot-troop
• रथयूथपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथयूथप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आचार्यपुत्रः: the teacher's son (Ashvatthaman)
• आचार्यपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्यपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सहसा: suddenly, quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• पाण्डवम्: the Pandava (son of Pandu)
• पाण्डवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पर्यवारयत्: surrounded, enclosed
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + अव + √वृ (वृणोति/वृ)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Aśvatthāmā
• Droṇa (implied by ācāryaputra)
• Pāṇḍava (unspecified individual)
• chariots (ratha)
• chariot-troops/squadrons (rathayūtha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how warfare often shifts from individual valor to collective tactics; ethically, it invites reflection on the tension between fair combat ideals and pragmatic strategies used to gain advantage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aśvatthāmā, commanding a large formation of chariots, suddenly advances and forms a ring around a Pāṇḍava warrior, attempting to isolate him by surrounding him from all directions.