Shloka 18

Devanagari script

ततो<वतीर्य वार्ष्णेयो बाहुकश्व रथोत्तमात्‌ । हयांस्तानवमुच्याथ स्थापयामास वै रथम्‌,तदनन्तर वार्ष्णेय और बाहुकने उस उत्तम रथसे उतरकर घोड़े खोल दिये और रथको एक जगह खड़ा कर दिया

Transliteration

tato ’vatīrya vārṣṇeyo bāhukaś ca rathottamāt | hayāṁs tān avamucyātha sthāpayāmāsa vai ratham ||

Translation

Darauf stiegen Vārṣṇeya und Bāhuka von jenem vortrefflichen Wagen herab. Sie spannten die Pferde aus und stellten den Wagen fest an einem Ort auf—eine sorgfältige, disziplinierte Vorbereitung, die inmitten einer angespannten Reise von kluger Umsicht zeugt.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

अवतीर्यhaving descended

वार्ष्णेयःVārṣṇeya (Krishna/one of the Vrishnis)

बाहुकःBāhuka (proper name)

रथोत्तमात्from the excellent chariot

हयान्horses

तान्those

अवमुच्यhaving unyoked/released

अथthen

स्थापयामासplaced, set up, stationed

वैindeed

रथम्the chariot

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vārṣṇeya

Bāhuka

chariot (ratha)

horses (haya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights practical dharma: orderly, responsible action (unyoking and securing the chariot) as a form of self-control and foresight. Even routine tasks, done properly, support safety and right conduct during uncertain circumstances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva narrates that Vārṣṇeya and Bāhuka get down from an excellent chariot, unyoke the horses, and park the chariot securely—signaling a pause or preparation for the next stage of their undertaking.