Mahabharata 9.18.63 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 18, Shloka 63

शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्

Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally

Devanagari script

पूरयन्‌ रथघोषेण दिश: सर्वा महारथ: । शल्य मारे गये और मद्रराजका प्रिय करनेमें लगे हुए मद्रदेशीय महारथियोंने धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरको पीड़ित कर रखा है; यह सुनकर कुन्तीपुत्र महारथी अर्जुन गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकार करते और रथके गम्भीर घोषसे सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको परिपूर्ण करते हुए वहाँ आ पहुँचे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | pūrayan rathaghoṣeṇa diśaḥ sarvā mahārathaḥ | śalya māre gate ca madrarājasya priyaṃ kartum udyataiḥ madradeśīyaiḥ mahārathibhiḥ dharmaputraḥ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ pīḍitaḥ | etac chrutvā kuntīputro mahāratho 'rjunaḥ gāṇḍīva-dhanuṣaḥ ṭaṅkāraṃ kurvan rathasya gambhīra-ghoṣeṇa ca samantād diśaḥ paripūrayan tatra upāgamat ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：那位大勇士阿周那驾车赶到，战车的轰鸣如雷，充满四方。因为沙利耶既已阵亡，摩陀罗的强大战士们为取悦其王，正猛烈逼迫法子犹提施提罗。闻此危急，昆蒂之子阿周那急拈甘狄婆弓，使弓弦作响，又以战车深沉的咆哮震荡诸方，疾驰而至。

Word by Word

• पूरयन्: filling
• पूरयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूरयत् (√पूर्/√पॄ + णिच्)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोग (कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रथघोषेण: with the roar/sound of the chariot
• रथघोषेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथघोष
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Arjuna
• Yudhishthira (Dharmaputra)
• Shalya
• Madra
• King of Madra (Madraraja)
• Gandiva (bow)
• Chariot

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights kshatriya-dharma expressed as protective responsibility: when the righteous leader (Yudhishthira) is oppressed, Arjuna responds swiftly, using his strength not for vanity but to uphold dharma and safeguard his kin and cause.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Shalya’s fall, Madra warriors intensify their assault on Yudhishthira to please their king. On hearing this, Arjuna rushes to the battlefield scene, announcing his arrival with the twang of the Gandiva and the booming sound of his chariot that fills all directions.