Shloka 21

Virāṭa Rescued from Suśarmā; Night Battle and Royal Gratitude (विराटमोक्षणं सुशर्मवधाभिमुखं च)

Devanagari script

लक्षयित्वा त्रिगर्तानां तौ प्रविष्टी रथव्रजम्‌ | अग्रत: सूर्यदत्तश्न मदिराक्षश्न पृष्ठत:,फिर उन दोनोंने त्रिगर्तोंकी रथसेनाको लक्ष्य बनाकर उसमें प्रवेश किया। सूर्यदत्तने आगेकी ओरसे आक्रमण किया और मदिराक्षने पीछेकी ओरसे

Transliteration

lakṣayitvā trigartānāṃ tau praviṣṭī rathavrajam | agrataḥ sūryadattaś ca madirākṣaś ca pṛṣṭhataḥ ||

Translation

二人认定特里伽尔塔人的战车军为目标，便冲入车阵之海。苏利耶达多自前方猛击，摩底罗阿叉自后方袭击——两面夹攻，协同压迫敌军。

Word by Word

लक्षयित्वाhaving aimed at / having targeted

त्रिगर्तानाम्of the Trigartas

तौthose two

प्रविष्टौentered / having entered

रथव्रजम्the mass/host of chariots (chariot-troop)

अग्रतःin front / from the front

सूर्यदत्तःSūryadatta

मदिराक्षःMadirākṣa (lit. 'one with wine-colored eyes')

पृष्ठतःfrom behind / at the rear

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Trigartas

Sūryadatta

Madirākṣa

ratha (chariot)

rathavraja (chariot-host/formation)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined coordination in battle: effective action is guided by clear focus (lakṣya) and complementary roles (front and rear assault). Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya sphere where courage and tactical skill are exercised within the larger narrative of duty and conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two named warriors, Sūryadatta and Madirākṣa, identify the Trigartas’ chariot formation and charge into it. One attacks from the front and the other from the rear, creating pressure on the enemy from both directions.