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Shloka 956

अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च

Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter

व्यचरत्‌ पृतनामध्ये पाशहस्त इवान्तकः । अर्जुन रथसेना और घुड़सवारोंके समूहमें घुसकर पाशधारी यमराजके समान कौरव- सेनाके मध्यभागमें विचरने लगे

sañjaya uvāca | vyacarat pṛtanāmadhye pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ |

Sañjaya thưa: Arjuna tung hoành giữa chiến trận như Antaka (Thần Chết) cầm thòng lọng—xông vào đội chiến xa và kỵ binh của địch, rồi lướt qua ngay trung tâm quân Kaurava.

व्यचरत्moved about, roamed
व्यचरत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
Formलङ्, Imperfect (past), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
पृतनाin the army/battle-array
पृतना:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपृतना
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
मध्येin the middle
मध्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमध्य
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
पाशहस्तःone having a noose in hand (noose-handed)
पाशहस्तः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाशहस्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अन्तकःDeath (Yama), the ender
अन्तकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
A
Antaka (Death/Yama)
P
pāśa (noose)
P
pṛtanā (army/battle-host)

Educational Q&A

The verse uses the metaphor of Death with a noose to convey inevitability and moral consequence in war: when adharma ripens and peaceful options fail, the righteous warrior’s action can appear as inexorable justice rather than mere violence.

Sañjaya describes a warrior (contextually Arjuna in the battle) moving through the midst of the opposing host, penetrating the enemy formations; his presence is compared to Antaka (Death) holding a noose, emphasizing the terror and decisiveness of his advance.