Shloka 6

अभिमन्यु-पराक्रमवर्णनम्

Abhimanyu’s Prowess and the Duḥśāsana Engagement

Devanagari script

चक्र युगं च तूणीरं हानुकर्ष च सायकै: । पताकां चक्रगोप्तारौ सर्वोपकरणानि च

Transliteration

cakra-yugaṁ ca tūṇīraṁ hānukarṣaṁ ca sāyakaiḥ | patākāṁ cakra-goptārau sarvopakaraṇāni ca

Translation

Da waren auch Radwerk und Achse, Köcher, Bogensehne und Pfeile; das Banner und die Wächter des Wagenrades — ja, alle Gerätschaften des Krieges.

Word by Word

• चक्रम्: wheel/discus
• चक्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• युगम्: yoke
• युगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तूणीरम्: quiver
• तूणीरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूणीर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• हानुकर्षम्: bow-string/strap (a pulling-thong)
• हानुकर्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हानुकर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पताकाम्: banner/flag
• पताकाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रगोप्तारौ: the two wheel-guards (protectors of the wheels)
• चक्रगोप्तारौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रगोप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• सर्वोपकरणानि: all equipment/implements
• सर्वोपकरणानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वोपकरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariot wheel (cakra)
• chariot yoke/gear (yuga)
• quiver (tūṇīra)
• bow-string (hānukarṣa)
• arrows (sāyaka)
• banner/standard (patākā)
• wheel-guards (cakra-goptārau)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores disciplined readiness: in a dharmic war narrative, success and responsibility depend not only on valor but also on proper preparation, organization, and the support roles that sustain a warrior’s action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya inventories the chariot’s war-gear—wheels and harness, quiver, bow-string, arrows, banner, and the attendants guarding the wheels—indicating that the combatant’s chariot and its supporting personnel are fully equipped for battle.