Shloka 33

Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)

Devanagari script

तत:ः प्रायान्महाराज माधवो भगवान्‌ रथी

Transliteration

tataḥ prāyān mahārāja mādhavo bhagavān rathī

Translation

Darauf, o großer König, brach Mādhava—der verehrte Herr und meisterliche Wagenlenker—auf und trieb das Geschehen mit zielbewusster Entschlossenheit voran, mitten im Druck von Krieg und Pflicht.

Word by Word

ततःthen; thereafter

प्रायात्departed; set out

महाराजO great king

माधवःMādhava (Krishna)

भगवान्the blessed/lordly one

रथीthe charioteer; chariot-warrior

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Mahārāja (Janamejaya, implied addressee)

Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa)

ratha (chariot, implied by rathī)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the turmoil of war, rightful action requires decisive movement guided by duty and clear purpose; the epithet “bhagavān” underscores that moral authority and leadership can coexist with strategic action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana tells the king that Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), described as the revered Lord and a chariot-warrior, sets out—marking a transition to the next event in the Shalya Parva battle narrative.