Shloka 38

Devanagari script

ततो रथादवप्लुत्य सौबलो भरतर्षभ

Transliteration

tato rathād avaplutya saubalo bharatarṣabha

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the Saubala (Śakuni) leapt down from his chariot—O bull among the Bharatas—and sprang into action, a sudden shift from chariot-war to close engagement amid the turmoil of battle.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/then')

• रथात्: from the chariot
• रथात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• अवप्लुत्य: having leapt down
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√प्लु (प्लु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा-न्त), indeclinable; 'having jumped down'

• सौबलः: Saubala (son of Subala; i.e., Śakuni)
• सौबलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Saubala (Śakuni)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by address: bharatarṣabha)
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how quickly circumstances in war can force a change of method—leaving the chariot for direct action—underscoring the instability of conflict and the ethical pressure it places on decision-making.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Śakuni (called Saubala) leaps down from his chariot, indicating an immediate tactical move or a transition to closer engagement in the ongoing battle.