Shloka 18

वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्

Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit

Devanagari script

ततः: स पुनरारुह्म वारणप्रवरं रणे | अव्यग्रः प्रेषयामास जयार्थी विजयं प्रति

Transliteration

tataḥ sa punar āruhya vāraṇapravaraṃ raṇe | avyagraḥ preṣayāmāsa jayārthī vijayaṃ prati ||

Translation

Rồi chàng lại leo lên con voi đầu đàn trên chiến địa. Không hề nao núng, một lòng cầu thắng, chàng thúc nó tiến thẳng về phía Vijaya (Arjuna), tìm lấy chiến thắng trong cuộc giao tranh.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः
• Form: Avyaya

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), indeclinable

• वारणप्रवरम्: the best of elephants
• वारणप्रवरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारणप्रवर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अव्यग्रः: unagitated, unflurried
• अव्यग्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रेषयामास: sent forth, urged on
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जयार्थी: desiring victory
• जयार्थी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जयार्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विजयम्: victory
• विजयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति
• Form: Avyaya (preposition)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vijaya (Arjuna)
• foremost elephant (vāraṇapravara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness of mind (avyagraḥ) and determined effort in one’s chosen duty; in a martial context it portrays the kṣatriya ideal of acting without panic while pursuing the intended objective.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior remounts a superior war-elephant and, remaining calm, drives it forward toward Vijaya—i.e., Arjuna—seeking victory in the ongoing battle.