Shloka 53

अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च

Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter

Devanagari script

गजवाजिमनुष्यैश्न निपतद्धिः समन्तत:

Transliteration

gajavājimanuṣyaiś ca nipatadbhiḥ samantataḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “Sa lahat ng dako, ang mga elepante, kabayo, at tao ay bumabagsak na parang mga bunton.”

Word by Word

• गज: by/with elephants
• गज: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वाजि: by/with horses
• वाजि: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मनुष्यैः: by/with men
• मनुष्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• निपतद्भिः: falling down
• निपतद्भिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निपतत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• समन्ततः: on all sides, all around
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• elephants
• horses
• men (warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the stark reality of war: life and strength—whether of men or mighty animals—collapse alike. It implicitly cautions against attachment to power and highlights the grave ethical cost of unchecked conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the intensity of the fighting: casualties are mounting everywhere, with elephants, horses, and warriors falling on all sides.