Shloka 39

उपायैः पूर्ववधकथनम् / Strategic Justifications for Prior Eliminations

Devanagari script

ये ये प्रमुखतो राजन्नावर्तन्त महारथा:

Transliteration

ye ye pramukhato rājann āvartanta mahārathāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: O König, jene vordersten Mahārathas, die erlesensten Wagenkrieger, die sich von der Front zurückwandten, taten es an der Spitze; ihr Rückzug bestimmte die Bewegung der Schlachtreihe und die Stimmung ihrer Gefolgsleute.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ये: those who (repeated: whoever)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रमुखतः: in the forefront; chiefly; prominently
• प्रमुखतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: true

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• आवर्तन्ते: turn back; return; wheel about
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• mahārathāḥ (great chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In war and in ethical decision-making, the conduct of leaders shapes the conduct of the many: when foremost warriors turn, advance, or withdraw, their example governs the movement and confidence of the wider force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the leading great chariot-warriors were wheeling back/returning, indicating a significant shift in the battle’s formation and momentum.