Shloka 28

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

रथान्‌ हयै: सुसम्पन्नानास्थाय च नरोत्तमा: । निर्ययुर्मुदिता: पार्था: शत्रुसंघावमर्दिन:,शत्रुसमूहको रौंद डालनेवाले वे नरश्रेष्ठ कुन्तीपुत्र घोड़े जुते हुए रथोंपर बैठकर बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ राजभवनसे बाहर निकले

Transliteration

rathān hayaiḥ susampannān āsthāya ca narottamāḥ | niryayur muditāḥ pārthāḥ śatrusaṅghāvamardinaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Die Besten der Männer — die Pārthas, Zermalmer feindlicher Heerscharen — bestiegen wohlgerüstete, mit Pferden bespannte Streitwagen und fuhren, von Freude und festem Entschluss erfüllt, aus der königlichen Residenz hinaus.

Word by Word

रथान्chariots

हयैःwith horses

सुसम्पन्नान्well-equipped / well-provided

आस्थायhaving mounted / having taken (seat)

चand

नरोत्तमाःbest of men

निर्ययुःwent out / sallied forth

मुदिताःjoyful

पार्थाःthe sons of Pṛthā (Pāṇḍavas)

शत्रुसंघावमर्दिनःcrushers of the host of enemies

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas / sons of Kuntī)

chariots (ratha)

horses (haya)

royal residence/palace (implied by 'went out')

enemy hosts (śatru-saṅgha)

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?

The verse highlights disciplined preparedness and collective resolve: righteous power is not mere aggression but organized strength directed toward protecting order and confronting hostile forces—an aspect of kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Pāṇḍavas, confident and pleased, mount well-equipped horse-drawn chariots and ride out from the palace, poised to face and subdue opposing forces.