Mahabharata 9.5.36 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 36

शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command

Devanagari script

शूराणामरर्यवृत्तानां संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्‌ । धीमतां सत्यसंधानां सर्वेषां क्रतुयाजिनाम्‌

Transliteration

śūrāṇām araryavṛttānāṁ saṅgrāmeṣv anivartinām | dhīmatāṁ satyasaṁdhānāṁ sarveṣāṁ kratuyājinām ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „Es waren Helden von edler Lebensart, die in der Schlacht nicht zurückweichen — weise Männer, standhaft in Wahrheit und gegebenem Wort, allesamt Vollzieher heiliger Opfer- und Weihehandlungen.“

Word by Word

• शूराणाम्: of heroes
• शूराणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अरर्यवृत्तानाम्: of those whose conduct is noble/irreproachable
• अरर्यवृत्तानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरर्यवृत्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• संग्रामेषु: in battles
• संग्रामेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अनिवर्तिनाम्: of the unretreating (those who do not turn back)
• अनिवर्तिनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिवर्तिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• धीमताम्: of the intelligent/wise
• धीमताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• सत्यसंधानाम्: of those true to their pledges (truth-keeping)
• सत्यसंधानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यसंध
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• क्रतुयाजिनाम्: of sacrificers (performers of Vedic rites)
• क्रतुयाजिनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतुयाजिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises an ideal of dharmic warriorhood: courage without retreat, wisdom, fidelity to truth and vows, and reverence for sacred duty—suggesting that martial prowess is ethically framed by character and commitment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is characterizing a group of combatants in the Shalya Parva, emphasizing their valor and moral qualities—unflinching in battle, truthful, and ritually observant—setting the tone for the ensuing martial events.