Mahabharata 9.3.33 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 3, Shloka 33

अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

ततो धनंजयो राजन्‌ रथानीकमगाहत । विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपन्‌ धनु:,राजन! तदनन्तर अर्जुनने अपने त्रिभुवनविख्यात गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकार करते हुए आपके रथियोंकी सेनामें प्रवेश किया

Transliteration

tato dhanañjayo rājan rathānīkam agāhata | viśrutaṃ triṣu lokeṣu gāṇḍīvaṃ vyākṣipan dhanuḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：于是，大王，檀那ंज耶（阿周那）挥舞着名闻三界的神弓“甘狄婆”，其弓弦轰然作响，宣示无畏之志与正法之烈，径直冲入密集的战车武士阵列之中。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)

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

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• रथानीकम्: the chariot-division/array (of chariots)
• रथानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथानीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अगाहत: entered, plunged into
• Type: Verb
• Root: गाह् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular

• विश्रुतम्: renowned, famous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि+श्रु)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिषु: in three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• लोकेषु: in the worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• गाण्डीवम्: Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna’s bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• व्याक्षिपन्: stretching/drawing (the bow), brandishing
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) with वि+आ
• Form: Present participle (Parasmaipada), Singular, Masculine, Nominative

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• Gāṇḍīva
• rathānīka (chariot corps)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of resolute action in a righteous cause: Arjuna’s famed bow and decisive entry into the enemy’s chariot formation symbolize courage, disciplined skill, and commitment to duty (dharma) even amid peril.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, wielding the world-renowned Gāṇḍīva, advances directly into the dense formation of chariot-warriors, signaling the start of an intense engagement.