Shloka 31

Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)

Devanagari script

इस तरहकी बातें करते हुए सूंजयवीर अत्यन्त हर्षमें भरकर आपके भागते हुए योद्धाओंका पीछा करने लगे ।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

dhanañjayo rathānīkam abhyavartata vīryavān |

mādrīputrau ca śakuniṃ sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Khi các Sṛñjaya nói như thế, lòng tràn hoan hỷ, họ liền đuổi theo những chiến binh của ngài đang tháo chạy. Ngay lúc ấy, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) dũng mãnh xông thẳng vào đội chiến xa của ngài. Cùng với chàng, hai con của Mādrī (Nakula và Sahadeva) và đại xa chiến binh Sātyaki cũng tiến lên đánh Śakuni.

Word by Word

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथानीकम्: the chariot-division/army of chariots
• रथानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्यवर्तत: attacked/advanced upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वृत्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वीर्यवान्: valiant, powerful
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माद्रीपुत्रौ: the two sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva)
• माद्रीपुत्रौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्री + पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

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

• शकुनिम्: Śakuni
• शकुनिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सात्यकिः: Sātyaki
• सात्यकिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्यकि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• महारथः: a great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Rathānīka (chariot-host)
• Mādrī
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Śakuni
• Sātyaki

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violent conflict, action is portrayed as purposeful and duty-bound: the Pāṇḍava side advances with resolve, aiming at decisive points (formations and key leaders). The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma as disciplined courage rather than uncontrolled fury.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna assaults the Kaurava chariot formation, while Nakula and Sahadeva together with Sātyaki move to attack Śakuni, indicating a coordinated push against both the enemy’s main force and a prominent strategist.