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Shloka 55

Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure

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

रथाश्वगजनादांश्व शस्त्रशब्दांश्व॒ दारुणान्‌ । इस प्रकार किरीटधारी अर्जुनको उस युद्धभूमिका दर्शन कराते हुए श्रीकृष्णने जाते- जाते ही दुर्योधनकी सेनामें महान्‌ कोलाहल सुना। वहाँ शंखों और दुन्दुभियोंकी ध्वनि छा रही थी। भेरी और पणव आदि बाजे बज रहे थे। रथके घोड़ों और हाथियोंके हींसने एवं विग्घाड़नेके तथा शस्त्रोंके परस्पर टकरानेके भयानक शब्द भी सुनायी पड़ते थे || ५३-५४ ई | प्रविश्य तद्‌ बल॑ कृष्णस्तुरगैर्वातवेगितै:

rathāśvagajanādāṁś ca śastraśabdāṁś ca dāruṇān | praviśya tad balaṁ kṛṣṇas turagair vātavegitaiḥ ||

Sañjaya nói: Khi Kṛṣṇa đánh xe đi tiếp—vừa chỉ cho Arjuna đội mũ miện thấy chiến địa—Ngài tiến vào doanh quân Duryodhana với những con ngựa nhanh như gió. Ở đó vang lên một cơn náo động mênh mông: tiếng tù và và trống kettledrum rền vang, tiếng trống bhērī và paṇava dội lên, tiếng ngựa kéo xe hí vang và voi rống, cùng tiếng binh khí va chạm nhau chát chúa, ghê rợn—những âm thanh báo hiệu đà chiến tranh đang dâng lên.

रथof the chariot
रथ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
अश्वof the horse
अश्व:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
गजof the elephant
गज:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगज
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
नादान्roars/sounds
नादान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाद
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
शस्त्रof weapons
शस्त्र:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्र
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
शब्दान्sounds/noises
शब्दान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
दारुणान्terrible/dreadful
दारुणान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदारुण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
प्रविश्यhaving entered
प्रविश्य:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-विश्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बलम्army/force
बलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कृष्णःKrishna
कृष्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तुरगैःwith horses
तुरगैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतुरग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वातwind
वात:
TypeNoun
Rootवात
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वेगितैःimpelled/urged (swift)
वेगितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootवेगित
Formक्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Kṛṣṇa
A
Arjuna
D
Duryodhana
B
battlefield
K
Kaurava army (Duryodhana’s host)
C
chariots
H
horses
E
elephants
W
weapons
C
conches (śaṅkha)
K
kettledrums (dundubhi)
B
bhērī drums
P
paṇava drums

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the moral weight of war: before any argument of victory or strategy, the sheer din of armies and weapons confronts the listener with the reality of violence. It frames the coming action as a dharma-crisis where courage and duty must be weighed against the human cost.

Sañjaya describes Kṛṣṇa driving Arjuna into/through Duryodhana’s forces. As they move, they hear the overwhelming sounds of the Kaurava host—drums, conches, animals, and clashing weapons—signaling that battle is fully engaged and intensifying.