Shloka 46

बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः

Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra

Devanagari script

एवं निर्जित्य तान्‌ वीरान्‌ सैन्धवान्‌ स धनंजय: । अन्वधावत धावन्तं हयं कामविचारिणम्‌

Transliteration

evaṁ nirjitya tān vīrān saindhavān sa dhanañjayaḥ | anvadhāvat dhāvantaṁ hayaṁ kāmavicāriṇam ||

Translation

毗湿摩耶那说：就这样，降伏了信度诸勇士之后，檀那ंज耶（阿周那）便继续奔走，追逐那匹在前疾驰、随意游行的马。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• निर्जित्य: having conquered/defeated
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√जि
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• वीरान्: heroes/warriors
• वीरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• सैन्धवान्: Sindhu-country (Saindhava) warriors
• सैन्धवान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सैन्धव
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अन्वधावत: ran after/pursued
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√धाव्
• Form: imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, singular, active

• धावन्तम्: running
• धावन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धाव्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, accusative, singular

• हयम्: horse
• हयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• कामविचारिणम्: roaming at will
• कामविचारिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामविचारिन्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Saindhavas (men of Sindhu)
• Ashvamedha horse

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined kingship: after establishing victory over challengers, the protector continues the Ashvamedha mission by pursuing the freely roaming horse—asserting rightful authority while keeping the action aligned with dharma (order, restraint, and duty).

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna has defeated the Saindhava warriors who opposed the Ashvamedha progress. Immediately afterward, he runs after the sacrificial horse, which is described as moving and running wherever it wishes, as is customary in the rite.