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Shloka 53

Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas

Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode

प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य मण्डलं सव्यमेव च । अश्वविद्यामें प्रवीण विराटपुत्रने पहले कौरवसेनाके समीप जाकर उन वायुके समान वेगशाली घोड़ोंको पुनः लौटाया और दाँयीं ओरसे घुमाकर बाँयीं ओर बढ़ा दिया

pradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya maṇḍalaṃ savyam eva ca |

Vaiśampāyana nói: Quay vòng sang phải rồi lại tạo một vòng lượn về trái, hoàng tử con Virāṭa—tinh thông thuật điều ngựa—trước hết áp sát quân Kaurava, rồi lại cho đôi tuấn mã nhanh như gió quay trở lại, và từ phía phải bẻ lái tiến sang trái.

प्रदक्षिणम्clockwise; to the right
प्रदक्षिणम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रदक्षिण
उपावृत्यhaving turned/returned
उपावृत्य:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootउप-आ-वृत्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)
मण्डलम्circle; circuit
मण्डलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमण्डल
Formneuter, accusative, singular
सव्यम्left (side)
सव्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसव्य
Formneuter, accusative, singular
एवindeed; just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
V
Virāṭa-putra (prince of Virāṭa)
K
Kaurava army
H
horses (wind-swift steeds)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores that battlefield success depends on disciplined technique and mental steadiness. Martial prowess (especially horsemanship and turning maneuvers) is ethically framed as controlled courage—skill used with awareness rather than impulsive aggression.

The prince of Virāṭa, expert in horsemanship, rides up near the Kaurava forces, brings the swift horses back under control, and executes a tactical turn—circling and redirecting the team from right to left—indicating a deliberate maneuver in the midst of combat movement.