Shloka 2

Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure

Ulūka–Yuyutsu; Śakuni–Sutasoma; Kṛpa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Kṛtavarmā–Śikhaṇḍin

Devanagari script

पार्थबाणहता राजन्‌ नराश्चरथकुज्जरा: । विचेलुर्ब भ्रमुर्नेशु: पेतुर्मम्लुश्न भारत,भरतवंशी नरेश! अर्जुनके बाणोंसे आहत हो हाथी, घोड़े, रथ और पैदल मनुष्य विचलित, भ्रान्त, पतित, मलिन तथा नष्ट होने लगे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

pārthabāṇahatā rājan narāś ca rathakuñjarāḥ |

vicelur bhramur neśuḥ petur mamluśna bhārata ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Tâu Đại vương, bị mũi tên của Pārtha (Arjuna) bắn trúng, người cùng xe chiến và voi trận đều rối loạn. Họ lảo đảo, chạy tán loạn, kêu thét, ngã gục xuống đất, máu me bê bết và tan nát. Dưới sức mạnh những mũi tên của Arjuna, chiến địa hóa thành cảnh hoảng loạn và sụp đổ.

Word by Word

• पार्थ-बाण-हता: struck by Arjuna's arrows
• पार्थ-बाण-हता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थबाणहत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• नराः: men (foot-soldiers)
• नराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• रथाः: chariots
• रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुञ्जराः: elephants
• कुञ्जराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विचेलुः: became unsteady / reeled
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चल्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• भ्रमुः: wandered / were confused
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• नेशुः: perished
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• पेतुः: fell
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• मम्लुशुः: became soiled / were disfigured
• Type: Verb
• Root: म्लुश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as rājan, bhārata)
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• men/warriors (narāḥ)
• chariots (ratha)
• elephants (kuñjara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the fragility of martial formations and human pride: in war, even mighty units—men, chariots, elephants—can be rapidly undone by superior skill and force. Ethically, it highlights the grim cost of conflict and the swift reversal of fortune that accompanies adharma-driven warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s arrows are cutting through the Kaurava forces. Warriors and major war-units (chariots and elephants) become shaken and confused, cry out, fall, and are left bloodied and destroyed, indicating a surge of Arjuna’s dominance in the battle.