Shloka 51

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

एष द्रोणस्य शिष्याणां शीघ्रास्त्रे प्रथणो मत: । एतस्य दर्शयिष्यामि शीघ्रास्त्रं विपुलं रणे

Transliteration

eṣa droṇasya śiṣyāṇāṃ śīghrāstre prathamo mataḥ | etasya darśayiṣyāmi śīghrāstraṃ vipulaṃ raṇe ||

Translation

Arjuna nói: “Kẻ này được xem là bậc đứng đầu trong các môn đệ của Droṇa về việc sử dụng vũ khí phóng nhanh. Trong trận chiến, ta sẽ cho hắn thấy một màn phô diễn hùng mạnh của những mũi tên, phi tiêu đánh nhanh ấy.”

Word by Word

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रोणस्य: of Droṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शिष्याणाम्: of the disciples
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• शीघ्रास्त्रे: in swift-weaponry / in rapid missile-use
• शीघ्रास्त्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीघ्रास्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रथणः: foremost, eminent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतः: is considered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एतस्य: of this (one)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• दर्शयिष्यामि: I will show
• दर्शयिष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शीघ्रास्त्रम्: swift weapon / rapid missile-technique
• शीघ्रास्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीघ्रास्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विपुलम्: vast, great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Droṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of martial excellence: skill is recognized within a lineage (Droṇa’s disciples), yet it must be met with disciplined resolve. Arjuna frames his response not as mere boasting but as a measured demonstration of capability in a just contest, emphasizing competence and responsibility in warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna identifies an opponent as the foremost among Droṇa’s students in rapid-weapon warfare and declares that he will counter by displaying his own powerful mastery of swift missiles on the battlefield.