Shloka 13

Saṃjaya’s Warning to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Accountability, Alliance-Shift, and the Pāṇḍava Strategic Edge

Devanagari script

एवमेतानि स रथे वहज्छवेतहयो रणे

Transliteration

evametāni sa rathe vahañ śvetahayō raṇe

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „So zog er, all diese Waffen und Vorbereitungen mit sich führend, auf seinem von weißen Rossen gezogenen Wagen in die Schlacht, und zeigte jenen Entschluss und jene Bereitschaft, die einem gerechten Kampf vorausgehen.“

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• एतानि: these (things)
• एतानि: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, plural

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• वहन्: carrying/driving
• वहन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• श्वेतहयः: one having white horses / (the chariot) with white horses
• श्वेतहयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेतहय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariot (ratha)
• white horses (śvetahayāḥ)
• battle (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores preparedness and purposeful action: entering battle is not mere aggression but a deliberate step taken after assembling means and resolve, framed within the larger Mahābhārata concern for dharma and rightful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues his report, describing a warrior proceeding in a chariot drawn by white horses, carrying the previously mentioned equipment or arrangements, and moving into the battlefield.