Shloka 39

Devanagari script

ते रथान्‌ सूर्यसंकाशानास्थिता: पुरुषर्षभा:

Transliteration

te rathān sūryasaṅkāśān āsthitāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Those bull-like heroes mounted their chariots, radiant as the sun—an image that heightens the martial grandeur and signals their resolute entry into the duties and perils of battle.

Word by Word

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथान्: chariots
• रथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सूर्यसंकाशान्: sun-bright, resembling the sun
• सूर्यसंकाशान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्यसंकाश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आस्थिताः: having mounted/ascended; seated upon
• आस्थिताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु: स्था)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)

• पुरुषर्षभाः: bulls among men; best of men
• पुरुषर्षभाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariots (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ideal of steadfastness in one’s appointed role: the foremost warriors, described with honorific imagery, take up their stations without hesitation, reflecting the kṣatriya ethic of courage and readiness to act.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the leading heroes mount their brilliantly shining chariots, preparing to engage in the unfolding combat of the Droṇa Parva.