Shloka 37

Adhyāya 107 — बहुयुद्धप्रकरणम्

Multiple Defensive Engagements to Protect Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

ततः सरथनागाश्चा: पाण्डवा: पाण्डुपूर्वज । परिवत्रू रणे भीष्मं माधवत्राणकारणात्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ sa-ratha-nāgāś ca pāṇḍavāḥ pāṇḍu-pūrvaja | parivavru raṇe bhīṣmaṃ mādhava-trāṇa-kāraṇāt ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Rồi các Pāṇḍava—được yểm trợ bởi chiến xa, kỵ mã và voi chiến—đã khép vòng vây quanh Bhīṣma trên chiến địa, hỡi người anh cả của Pāṇḍu, làm vậy để che chở cho đồng minh của Mādhava (Sātyaki).

Word by Word

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

• स-रथ-नागाः: those with chariots and elephants (i.e., chariots and elephants)
• स-रथ-नागाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ/नाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डु-पूर्वज: O elder brother of Pandu (i.e., Dhritarashtra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• परिवव्रुः: surrounded, encompassed
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√वृ (वृणोति/वृ)
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• माधव-त्राण-कारणात्: because of (as) the cause of Madhava's protection (i.e., to protect Madhava/Satyaki)
• माधव-त्राण-कारणात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pāṇḍu
• Bhīṣma
• Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Sātyaki
• chariots
• horses
• war-elephants
• battlefield

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic motive within warfare: the Pāṇḍavas concentrate their forces not merely to strike a famed elder (Bhīṣma), but to protect a threatened ally (Sātyaki), presenting protection and loyalty as legitimate drivers of martial action.

What is happening in the narrative?

On the battlefield, the Pāṇḍavas arrive with a combined force of chariots, cavalry, and elephants and surround Bhīṣma from all sides, doing so to rescue/protect Sātyaki, who is associated with Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa).