Mahabharata · 7.64.29–30
॥
Devanāgarī
चोदयाश्वान् हृषीकेश यत्र दुर्मर्षणः स्थितः ॥
एतद् भित्त्वा गजानीकं प्रवेक्ष्याम्य् अरिवाहिनीम् ॥
एवम् उक्तो महाबाहुः केशवः सव्यसाचिना ॥
अचोदयद् धयांस् तत्र यत्र दुर्मर्षणः स्थितः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa yatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥ ||
etad bhittvā gajānīkaṃ pravekṣyāmy arivāhinīm ||
evam ukto mahābāhuḥ keśavaḥ savyasācinā ||
acodayad dhayāṃs tatra yatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
चोदय अश्वान् हृषीकेशcodaya aśvān hṛṣīkeśadrive on the horses, O Hrishikesha; drive on the horses, O Hrishikesha
यत्र दुर्मर्षणः स्थितःyatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥwhere Durmarshana stands; where Durmarshana stands
एतत् भित्त्वा गजानीकम्etat bhittvā gajānīkambreaking through this array of elephants; breaking through this array of elephants
प्रवेक्ष्यामि अरिवाहिनीम्pravekṣyāmi arivāhinīmI shall enter the enemy army; I shall enter the enemy host
एवम् उक्तः महाबाहुःevam uktaḥ mahābāhuḥthus addressed, the mighty-armed one; thus urged, the mighty-armed one
केशवः सव्यसाचिनाkeśavaḥ savyasācināKeshava — by Savyasachin; Keshava — by Savyasachin
अचोदयत् हयान् तत्रacodayat hayān tatradrove the horses there; drove the horses there
यत्र दुर्मर्षणः स्थितःyatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥwhere Durmarshana stood; where Durmarshana stood
Translation
[Arjuna:] 'Drive on the horses, O Hrishikesha, [to] where Durmarshana stands; breaking through this array of elephants, I shall enter the enemy army.' Thus urged by Savyasachin, the mighty-armed Keshava drove the horses there, where Durmarshana stood.
Version
4f02438beb6c · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The union of warrior and charioteer-God in action: Arjuna points to the goal, Keshava directs the horses. "Etat bhittvā... pravekṣyāmi," "breaking through, I shall enter" — a resolve to strike into the very thick of it. It is significant that Arjuna does not choose an easy path around, but goes toward the strongest barrier. The verse teaches that the devotee acts while the Lord guides: will and surrender join in a single movement — the human sets a righteous goal, God leads toward it; and one who goes with the Lord seeks no roundabout paths, but goes straight where untruth stands thickest.