Shloka 48

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

य एष तु रथानीके सुवर्णकवचावृत: । सेनाग्रयेण तृतीयेन व्यावहार्येण तिछति

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | ya eṣa tu rathānīke suvarṇakavacāvṛtaḥ | senāgrayeṇa tṛtīyena vyāvahāryeṇa tiṣṭhati |

Translation

Arjuna sprach: „Jener Krieger, der dort mitten unter den Wagenkämpfern steht, in goldene Rüstung gehüllt und bei der dritten, noch einsatzfähigen Vorhut aufgestellt—kampffertig und zu langem Gefecht tauglich—das ist der ruhmreiche Sohn Dhṛtarāṣṭras, König Suyodhana (Duryodhana).“

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रथ-अनीके: in the chariot-division/among the charioteers' array
• रथ-अनीके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सुवर्ण-कवच-आवृतः: covered with a golden armor
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण + कवच + आवृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सेना-अग्रयेण: with the vanguard of the army
• सेना-अग्रयेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना + अग्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तृतीयेन: as the third (division)
• तृतीयेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• व्यावहार्येण: fit for action/serviceable
• व्यावहार्येण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यावहार्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तिष्ठति: stands/is stationed
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (तिष्ठ-)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Suyodhana (Duryodhana)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• chariot-corps (rathānīka)
• golden armour (suvarṇa-kavaca)
• vanguard division (senāgra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights discernment and situational awareness in dharmic conflict: leaders are identified not by rhetoric but by their position, preparedness, and responsibility within the army—implying accountability of command in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna points out and identifies Suyodhana (Duryodhana) on the battlefield formation, describing him as stationed among the chariot troops, clad in golden armour, and placed with a forward, ready division—marking him as a principal figure in the opposing force.