Shloka 15

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

लब्धलक्षतया कार्ष्णे: सर्वे भीष्ममुखा रथा: । सत्त्ववन्तममन्यन्त साक्षादिव धनंजयम्‌

Transliteration

labdhalakṣatayā kārṣṇeḥ sarve bhīṣmamukhā rathāḥ | sattvavantam amanyanta sākṣād iva dhanañjayam |

Translation

三阇耶说道：见迦尔什尼（Kārṣṇi，阿毗曼纽）箭法必中，毗湿摩（Bhīṣma）为首的诸车战士皆以为他勇力绝伦——宛如檀那阇耶（Arjuna）亲临。此一命中显出纪律之技与无畏之心，使老练的战士也不得不在仇敌之中承认其功业与价值。

Word by Word

• लब्धलक्षतया: by (his) having attained the mark / by successful aim
• लब्धलक्षतया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लब्ध-लक्षता
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• कार्ष्णेः: of the son of Kṛṣṇa (Abhimanyu)
• कार्ष्णेः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्ष्णि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• भीष्ममुखाः: having Bhīṣma at the head (led by Bhīṣma)
• भीष्ममुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीष्म-मुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथाः: chariot-warriors / chariots
• रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सत्त्ववन्तम्: possessed of strength/valor
• सत्त्ववन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्ववत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अमन्यन्त: they thought / considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• साक्षात्: directly, as if present in person
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात्

• इव: as, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• धनंजयम्: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयम्: Upamana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Abhimanyu (Kārṣṇi)
• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• rathāḥ (chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid hostility, true excellence compels recognition. The verse highlights kṣatriya values—discipline, courage, and skill—and shows that merit (sattva) can be acknowledged by elders and opponents alike, reinforcing an ethic of honoring prowess and character.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Abhimanyu’s successful target-striking and swift prowess impress the battlefield’s senior chariot-warriors. Bhīṣma and the others, seeing his capability, regard him as virtually equal to Arjuna himself.