Shloka 3

पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सानुकर्षा: सतूणीरा: सवरूथा: सतोमरा: । सोपासड्रा: सशक्तीका: सनिषड़ा: सहर्शय:

Transliteration

sānukarṣāḥ satūṇīrāḥ savarūthāḥ satomarāḥ | sopāsaḍrāḥ saśaktīkāḥ saniṣaḍāḥ saharśayaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Sie waren vollständig ausgerüstet—trugen den anukarṣa (die hölzerne Stütze, die unter dem Streitwagen zur Reparatur und Stabilisierung befestigt wird), Köcher, Schutzverkleidungen für die Wagen, Wurfspieße, Zusatzköcher und Gerät, Speere und Lanzen sowie mancherlei Wurfwaffen.

Word by Word

• सानुकर्षाः: having anukarsa (chassis/under-beam for chariot repair)
• सानुकर्षाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सानुकर्ष (अनुकर्ष)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सतूणीराḥ: having quivers
• सतूणीराḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूणीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सवरूथाः: having chariot-covers/armour (varūtha)
• सवरूथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरूथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सतोमराः: having javelins (tomara)
• सतोमराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोमर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सोपासड्राः: having upāsadra/upāsaṅga (auxiliary quivers/weapon-holders)
• सोपासड्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपासड्र (उपासङ्ग/उपासड्र)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सशक्तीकाः: having spears/lances (śakti)
• सशक्तीकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्तिका (शक्ति)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सनिषडाः: having niṣaḍa/niṣaṅga (quivers carried by foot-soldiers)
• सनिषडाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषड (निषङ्ग/निषड)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सहर्षयः: having r̥ṣṭis (iron staff/spear-like weapon)
• सहर्षयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्षि (ऋष्टि/हर्षि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• anukarṣa
• tūṇīra (quiver)
• varūtha (chariot-covering)
• tomara (javelin)
• upāsaḍra/upāsaṅga (auxiliary quiver/gear)
• śakti (spear)
• niṣaṅga/niṣaḍa (weapon-case/quiver)
• harśaya/ṛṣṭi-type thrusting weapon

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined preparedness and organized mobilization. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya-world’s emphasis on readiness and duty-bound action, showing that war—when it comes—is approached with planning and full provisioning rather than impulsive violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing forces being outfitted with chariot fittings and a range of weapons—quivers, coverings, javelins, spears, and related gear—indicating a large-scale, systematic preparation for the coming conflict in the Udyoga Parva.