Shloka 343

Devanagari script

रुक्माड्दी रुक्मवर्मा रुक्मपुड्खैरवारयत्‌ । तदनन्तर सोनेके केयूर और सोनेके ही कवच धारण करनेवाले सुवर्णमय ध्वजासे सुशोभित कृतवर्माने सोनेकी पीठवाले अपने विशाल धनुषकी टंकार करके स्वर्णमय पंखवाले बाणोंसे सात्यकिको आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया

Transliteration

Rukmādī Rukmavarmā rukmapuḍkhair avārayat | tadanantaraṁ suvarṇake yūrakavacadhārī suvarṇamaya-dhvajena suśobhitaḥ Kṛtavarmā suvarṇapīṭhaṁ mahaddhanuḥ ṭaṅkāraṁ kṛtvā suvarṇapakṣair bāṇaiḥ Sātyakiṁ agre gacchantaṁ nivārayām āsa |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Rukmavarmā and the others checked him with arrows fitted with golden nocks. Then Kṛtavarmā—adorned with a golden banner, wearing golden armlets and a golden cuirass—twanged his great bow with its golden back and, with arrows winged in gold, halted Sātyaki from advancing.

Word by Word

• रुक्मात्: from gold / from (golden)
• रुक्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्म
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• रुक्मवर्मा: Rukmavarmā (gold-armoured one; proper name)
• रुक्मवर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मवर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रुक्मपुड्खैः: with gold-feathered (arrows)
• रुक्मपुड्खैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मपुड्ख
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अवारयत्: checked / stopped / warded off
• Type: Verb
• Root: वारय्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Rukmavarmā
• Kṛtavarmā
• Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)
• golden-nocked arrows
• golden banner (dhvaja)
• armlets (keyūra)
• armor (kavaca)
• great bow (dhanus)
• golden-feathered arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage underscores kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: warriors, bound to their side and duty, employ skill and intimidation to restrain an advancing foe. It also suggests that outward splendor (golden arms and standards) serves as a psychological instrument in battle, yet does not itself determine righteousness—only steadfast adherence to one’s chosen duty does.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes how Rukmavarmā and others first check the opponent with golden-nocked arrows. Immediately after, Kṛtavarmā, magnificently equipped, twangs his great bow and shoots golden-feathered arrows to stop Sātyaki from moving forward.