Shloka 9

Devanagari script

यष्टिभिस्तोमरैचशित्रैश्शूलैश्चमुसलैरपि ।भिण्डिपालैश्चपाशैश्चशक्तिभिःपट्टसैरपि ।।6.53.8।।खडगैश्चक्रैर्गदाभिश्चनिशितैश्चपरश्वधैः ।पदातयश्चनिर्यान्तिविविधाःशस्त्रपाणयः ।।6.53.9।।

Transliteration

yaṣṭibhis tomaraiś citraiḥ śūlaiś ca musalair api |

bhiṇḍipālaiś ca pāśaiś ca śaktibhiḥ paṭṭasair api ||6.53.8||

khaḍgaiś cakrair gadābhiś ca niśitaiś ca paraśvadhaiḥ |

padātayaś ca niryānti vividhāḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ ||6.53.9||

Translation

Die Fußsoldaten rückten in Schlachtordnung aus, die Hände voll verschiedenster Waffen: Stäbe, Tomaras, Dreizacke, Keulen, Bhindipālas, Schlingen, Speere und Paṭṭasas; dazu Schwerter, Wurfscheiben, Streitkolben und scharfe Äxte.

Word by Word

• vicitravāsasaḥ: wearing splendid/variegated garments
• vicitravāsasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra-vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय-समास: vicitra + vāsas = 'having variegated garments'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• dīptāḥ: glowing, radiant
• dīptāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle from √dīp), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• rākṣasapuṅgavāḥ: rākṣasa chiefs
• rākṣasapuṅgavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: rākṣasāṇām puṅgavāḥ = 'leaders among rākṣasas'

• gajāmadotkaṭāḥ: fierce with elephant-ichor (like rutting elephants)
• gajāmadotkaṭāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaja-mada-utkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative): gaja-mada (elephant-ichor) + utkaṭa (intense)

• śūrāḥ: heroes
• śūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• calantaḥ: moving
• calantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cal (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'moving'

• iva: like/as
• iva: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• parvatāḥ: mountains
• parvatāḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

Armed with swords, many foot soldiers carrying poles, strange clubs, tridents, iron bars, slings and roped to throw spears and spears with sharp edges, swords, battle axes, javelins, and maces, departed.

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is implied as organized, rule-bound warfare: the verse stresses ordered mobilization and preparedness, pointing to war as a disciplined duty rather than chaotic violence.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative describes the infantry moving out, cataloguing the diverse arms carried as the battle intensifies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective discipline and readiness—soldiers equipped and moving in formation, reflecting obedience and coordinated effort.