Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

ते सर्व तावकान्‌ दृष्टवा महेष्वासा: पराड्मुखान्‌

Transliteration

te sarve tāvakān dṛṣṭvā maheṣvāsāḥ parāṅmukhān

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Thấy toàn bộ quân của ngài—những người nổi danh là đại cung thủ—đang quay lưng bỏ chạy, tình thế ấy bộc lộ sự sụp đổ ý chí trong đạo quân Kaurava; một khoảnh khắc khi tài nghệ mà thiếu sự kiên định mục đích liền chao đảo trước sức ép đạo lý và tâm lý của chiến tranh.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तावकान्: your men / your side's warriors
• तावकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तावक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite

• महेष्वासाः: great bowmen
• महेष्वासाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पराङ्मुखान्: turned away; facing away
• पराङ्मुखान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• tāvakāḥ (Kaurava warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even renowned skill (being “great archers”) can fail when inner resolve and righteous clarity collapse; in war, ethical strain and fear can overturn reputation, showing the need for steadiness, discipline, and responsible leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava warriors—despite being celebrated bowmen—are seen turning away from the fight, indicating retreat or loss of fighting spirit at a critical moment in the battle.