Shloka 18

Devanagari script

रक्षमाणै: सुसंरब्धै: पुत्रै: शस्त्रभृतां वर: । वाहिनीं प्रमुखे वीर: सम्प्रकर्षज्रशो भत

Transliteration

rakṣamāṇaiḥ susaṃrabdhaiḥ putraiḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | vāhinīṃ pramukhe vīraḥ samprakārṣaj jraśo bhata

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Von seinen Söhnen bewacht, die in wilder Erregung brannten und auf Schutz bedacht waren, zog jener Held—der Vornehmste unter den Waffenträgern—das Heer an der Spitze voran und drängte mit stürmischer Kraft in die Schlachtlinie.

Word by Word

• रक्षमाणैः: by (those) protecting
• रक्षमाणैः: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सुसंरब्धैः: by the very enraged/impetuous
• सुसंरब्धैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसंरब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पुत्रैः: by (his/the) sons
• पुत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शस्त्रभृताम्: of weapon-bearers
• शस्त्रभृताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्रभृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाहिनीम्: the army/host
• वाहिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रमुखे: in the front/at the head
• प्रमुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्प्रकर्षत्: dragged/drew along
• सम्प्रकर्षत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन भूत), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• रथः: the chariot
• रथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• पुत्र (sons)
• वाहिनी (army/host)
• शस्त्र (weapons)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: leaders advance at the front, accepting danger first, while family and followers fulfill their duty by protecting and supporting. It frames martial action as structured by obligation—protection, courage, and responsibility—rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a heroic commander moving at the head of the formation, driving the army forward. His sons, intensely roused, surround him as protectors, enabling his aggressive push into the front of the battle.