Shloka 41

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्

Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement

Devanagari script

रथिनो रथिभश्रि: सार्ध कुलपुत्रास्तनुत्यज: । परां शक्ति समास्थाय चक्कु: कर्माण्यभीतवत्‌

Transliteration

rathino rathibhaśriḥ sārdhaṃ kulaputrās tanutyajāḥ | parāṃ śaktiṃ samāsthāya cakruḥ karmāṇy abhītavat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The chariot-warriors, radiant with martial splendor, together with the noble-born youths ready to lay down their bodies, took their stand upon supreme resolve and carried out their duties without fear.

Word by Word

रथिनःchariot-warriors

रथिभश्रियःthose whose splendor is (among) chariot-fighters / illustrious chariot-warriors

सार्धम्together (with)

कुलपुत्राःsons of noble families

तनुत्यजाःbody-surrenderers (ready to give up their bodies)

पराम्supreme, highest

शक्तिम्power; energy; might

समास्थायhaving resorted to; having taken up

चक्रुःthey did; they performed

कर्माणिdeeds; actions

अभीतवत्fearlessly; like one unafraid

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

rathinaḥ (chariot-warriors)

kulaputrāḥ (noble-born youths)

ratha (chariot, implied)

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?

That steadfastness in one’s duty (karma) requires inner strength and fearlessness; true valor is disciplined resolve—acting without panic even when life may be sacrificed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the warriors on the battlefield: chariot-fighters and noble youths, prepared to give up their lives, take up supreme resolve and proceed to perform their martial tasks without fear.