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Shloka 18

भीमसेनस्य गदायुद्ध-प्रभावः

The Battlefield Impact of Bhīmasena’s Mace Combat

ततः सरथनागाश्चा भीष्मद्रोणपुरोगमा: । अभ्यवर्तन्त राजान: सहिता: सव्यसाचिनम्‌,यह देख भीष्म और द्रोण आदि सभी कौरव-पक्षीय नरेश रथ, हाथी और घोड़ोंकी सेनासहित एक साथ अर्जुनपर चढ़ आये

tataḥ sa-ratha-nāgāś ca bhīṣma-droṇa-purogamāḥ | abhyavartanta rājānaḥ sahitāḥ savyasācinam ||

แล้วบรรดากษัตริย์ฝ่ายเการพทั้งหลาย โดยมีภีษมะและโทรณะเป็นผู้นำหน้า ต่างยกกำลังพร้อมด้วยรถศึก ช้างศึก และม้าศึก เข้าประชิดโจมตีสव्यสาจีอรชุนพร้อมกัน

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
Formtrue
सरथनागाःelephants with chariots (i.e., chariot-and-elephant troops)
सरथनागाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसरथनाग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
Formtrue
भीष्मद्रोणपुरोगमाःhaving Bhishma and Drona in front/at the head
भीष्मद्रोणपुरोगमाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभीष्मद्रोणपुरोगम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अभ्यवर्तन्तthey advanced/turned towards (attacked)
अभ्यवर्तन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-√वृत्
FormImperfect, 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada
राजानःkings
राजानः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सहिताःtogether, united
सहिताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसहित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सव्यसाचिनम्the left-handed archer (Arjuna)
सव्यसाचिनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसव्यसाचिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīṣma
D
Droṇa
A
Arjuna (Savyasācin)
K
Kaurava-side kings
C
chariots
E
elephants
H
horses

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how allegiance and martial duty (kṣatriya-dharma) can unite many leaders into a single, coordinated action, even against a famed individual. Ethically, it frames war as a realm where collective obligation and command structure propel action, intensifying the responsibility borne by leaders like Bhīṣma and Droṇa.

Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava-aligned kings, with chariot, elephant, and horse contingents, surge forward together to attack Arjuna, with Bhīṣma and Droṇa at the head of the advance.