Shloka 39

अध्याय २६ — शल्यस्य सारथ्य-नियोजनं, कर्णस्य प्रस्थानं, उत्पातदर्शनं च

Chapter 26: Śalya appointed as charioteer; Karṇa’s departure; portents

Devanagari script

आतड्कादिव सीदन्ति रथचक्राणि मारिष

Transliteration

āṭaṅkādiva sīdanti rathacakrāṇi māriṣa

Translation

قال سنجيا: «يا أيها الجليل، إن عجلات العربات تغوص، كأنما أصابها فزعٌ مفاجئ». ففي زحمة القتال الكالحة تتعثر حتى أدوات الحرب—إشارةً إلى أن الخوف والاضطراب وثقل الصراع قد يقوضان القوة والنظام.

Word by Word

• आतङ्कात्: from fear/panic
• आतङ्कात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतङ्क
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• सीदन्ति: sink down/flag/lose strength
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• रथचक्राणि: chariot-wheels
• रथचक्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथचक्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• मारिष: O venerable one/sir
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारिष
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• chariot wheels (rathacakrāṇi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how fear and turmoil can destabilize even powerful systems—here symbolized by chariot-wheels—implying that inner disturbance and the chaos of adharma-driven conflict erode effectiveness and control.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports battlefield conditions to the listener, describing chariot-wheels sinking as though caused by panic—an image of confusion and strain amid the fighting in the Karṇa Parva.