Shloka 57

भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः

Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt

Devanagari script

पाञ्चालस्य रथस्येषामाप्लुत्य सहसापतत्‌ । पाञज्चालरथमास्थाय अवित्रस्तो धनंजय:

Transliteration

pāñcālasya rathasyeṣām āplutya sahasāpatat | pāñcālaratham āsthāya avitrasto dhanaṃjayaḥ |

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：阿周那无所畏惧，骤然跃上般遮罗王战车的车辕。登上那般遮罗战车后，檀那ंज耶将其制于掌中——如迦楼罗搅动大海后擒住巨蛇。于是般遮罗全军惊惧，向十方溃逃。

Word by Word

• पाञ्चालस्य: of the Panchala (king/land)
• पाञ्चालस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रथस्य: of the chariot
• रथस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• ईषाम्: the poles/shafts (of the chariot)
• ईषाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईषा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• आप्लुत्य: having leapt/jumped onto
• आप्लुत्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + प्लु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• सहसा: suddenly, swiftly
• सहसा: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• अपतत्: fell/descended (upon)
• अपतत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पाञ्चाल: of the Panchala
• पाञ्चाल: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थाय: having mounted/ascended
• आस्थाय: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + स्था
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• अवित्रस्तः: unafraid, undaunted
• अवित्रस्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवित्रस्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya)
• Pāñcāla (Trupada/Drupada implied as the Pāñcāla king)
• Pāñcāla army
• chariot (ratha)
• chariot-pole/drawbar (īṣā)
• Garuḍa (simile)
• serpent (simile)
• ocean (simile)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as fearless resolve and decisive action: a single courageous, well-timed move can break an opponent’s morale and avert prolonged bloodshed by compelling retreat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna suddenly leaps onto the drawbar of the Pāñcāla king’s chariot, mounts it, and subdues the situation with overwhelming prowess (likened to Garuḍa seizing a serpent). Terrified, the Pāñcāla soldiers scatter and flee in all directions.