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Shloka 38

द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः

Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry

रुक्ममालाधरा: शूरा हेमपृष्ठा: स्वलंकृता: । काशिराजं नरश्रेष्ठ श्लाघनीयमुदावहन्‌,सुवर्णमाला धारण करनेवाले शूरवीर और सुवर्ण रंगके पृष्ठभागवाले सजे- सजाये घोड़े स्पृहणीय नरश्रेष्ठ काशिराजको रणभूमिमें ले गये

rukmamālā-dharāḥ śūrā hemapṛṣṭhāḥ svalankṛtāḥ | kāśirājaṃ naraśreṣṭha ślāghanīyam udāvahan ||

قال سنجيا: خيولٌ باسلة حسنة الزينة، متقلدة بأكاليل من ذهب، وظهورها تلمع كالذهب، حملت ملك كاشي—ذلك الرجل الأسمى الجدير بالثناء—إلى ساحة القتال. وتُظهر الآية أن شرف الملوك وبهاء الحرب يصحبان المحارب إلى الخطر، حيث تُختبر السمعة والواجب على مرأى من الناس.

रुक्ममालाधराःwearing golden garlands
रुक्ममालाधराः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरुक्ममालाधर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शूराःheroes/valiant ones
शूराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशूर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हेमपृष्ठाःhaving golden backs
हेमपृष्ठाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहेमपृष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
स्वलंकृताःwell-adorned
स्वलंकृताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसु-लंकृत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
काशिराजम्the king of Kāśi
काशिराजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकाशिराज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
नरश्रेष्ठO best of men
नरश्रेष्ठ:
TypeNoun
Rootनरश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
श्लाघनीयम्praiseworthy
श्लाघनीयम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootश्लाघनीय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उदावहन्they carried/bore (forth)
उदावहन्:
TypeVerb
Rootउद्-आ-√वह्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Kāśirāja (King of Kāśi)
H
horses
G
golden garlands (rukmamālā/suvarṇamālā)
B
battlefield (implied)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the Kṣatriya world-view where external signs of honor—ornamented steeds, royal display, public praise—accompany the warrior into battle, reminding that reputation and duty (dharma) are upheld in full view even amid violence.

Sañjaya describes the Kāśi king being borne into the fray by splendidly decorated horses, emphasizing his prominence and the ceremonial-martial grandeur surrounding his entry into battle.