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Shloka 3

उत्तरो भयविषण्णः — बृहन्नडेन धैर्योपदेशः

Uttara’s Panic and Bṛhannadā’s Stabilizing Counsel

इस समय मुझे ऐसे किसी मनुष्यका पता नहीं है, जो मेरा सारथि बन सके। मैं युद्धके लिये प्रस्थान करूँगा, अत: शीघ्र मेरे लिये किसी योग्य सारथिकी तलाश करो ।। अष्टाविंशतिरात्रं वा मासं वा नूनमन्ततः । यत्‌ तदासीन्महद्‌ युद्ध तत्र मे सारथि्हत:,पहले लगातार अट्ठाईस राततक अथवा अन्ततः एक मासतक जो वह महायुद्ध हुआ उसमें मेरा सारथि मारा गया था

uttara uvāca | idānīṃ mama tādṛśaḥ kaścid api manuṣyo na vidyate yo me sārathiḥ syāt | ahaṃ yuddhāya prasthāsyāmi, ataḥ śīghraṃ mama kṛte kaṃcid yogyam sārathim anvicchata || aṣṭāviṃśati-rātraṃ vā māsaṃ vā nūnam antataḥ | yat tad āsīn mahad yuddhaṃ tatra me sārathiḥ hataḥ ||

قال أُتَّرَة: «في هذه الساعة لا أعرف رجلًا يصلح أن يكون سائسًا لمركبتي. إني خارجٌ إلى القتال؛ فابغوا لي سريعًا سائسًا كفؤًا. فقد قُتِلَ سائسي هناك في تلك الحرب العظمى التي دامت ثمانيًا وعشرين ليلة متتابعة—أو، في النهاية، شهرًا كاملًا.»

अष्टाविंशतिtwenty-eight
अष्टाविंशति:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअष्टाविंशति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
रात्रम्nights (as a duration)
रात्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरात्रि
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
मासम्a month (as a duration)
मासम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमास
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
नूनम्surely, indeed
नूनम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनूनम्
अन्ततःfinally, at last
अन्ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्ततः
यत्which (that which)
यत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
आसीत्was
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormImperfect, 3, Singular
महत्great
महत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
युद्धम्battle, war
युद्धम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तत्रthere, in that (battle)
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
मेof me, my
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
सारथिःcharioteer
सारथिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसारथि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हतःkilled, slain
हतः:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

उत्तर उवाच

U
Uttara (Prince of Virāṭa)
C
charioteer (sārathi)

Educational Q&A

The passage highlights that martial leadership is not merely personal courage; it depends on competent support and proper preparation. Uttara’s urgency to find a qualified charioteer underscores the ethical responsibility to avoid reckless action in war and to rely on appropriate expertise.

Prince Uttara declares he is ready to depart for battle but lacks a charioteer. He asks that a suitable driver be found quickly, explaining that his previous charioteer was killed in an earlier prolonged and severe conflict.