Shloka 16

धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa

Devanagari script

रथे वातजवा युक्ता: सर्वशस्त्रातिगा रणे । बलिनो ह्वेषिणो दान्ता: सैन्धवा: साधुवाहिन:,जिनके रंग लाल थे, जो विशाल एवं दृढ़ शरीरवाले थे, जिन्हें सोनेकी जालियोंसे आच्छादित किया जाता था, जो रथमें जोते जानेपर वायुके समान वेगसे चलते थे, संग्राममें सब प्रकारके शस्त्रोंद्वारा किये जानेवाले प्रहारको बचा जाते थे, जो बलवान, सुशिक्षित और रथको अच्छी तरह वहन करनेवाले थे, रणभूमिमें जो दृढ़तापूर्वक डटे रहते और जोर- जोरसे हिनहिनाते थे, धनुषोंकी टंकारके साथ होनेवाली बाणवर्षा तथा अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंके आधघातको सहन करनेमें समर्थ एवं शत्रुओंको जीतनेका उत्साह रखनेवाले थे, जो पीड़ा तथा श्वासको जीत चुके थे, वे सिन्धुदेशीय घोड़े युद्ध-स्थलमें चिग्घाड़ते हुए हाथियों और शंखों एवं नगाड़ोंकी आवाजसे घबराये तो नहीं थे?

Transliteration

rathē vātajavā yuktāḥ sarvaśastrātigā raṇē | balinō hvēṣiṇō dāntāḥ saindhavāḥ sādhuvāhinaḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Were the Sindhu-bred horses—yoked to the chariots and swift as the wind—unharmed in battle, able to evade every kind of weapon-stroke? Strong, well-trained, and well-broken, bearing the chariot properly, did they stand firm on the field and neigh loudly, enduring the snap of bowstrings, the rain of arrows, and the clash of arms without losing heart?”

Word by Word

rathein the chariot

vātajavāḥhaving wind-like speed

yuktāḥyoked/harnessed

sarvaśastrātigāḥsurpassing/evading all weapons

raṇein battle

balinaḥstrong

hveṣiṇaḥneighing (loudly)

dāntāḥtamed/controlled

saindhavāḥSindhu-country (Saindhava) horses

sādhuvāhinaḥgood bearers/drawers (of the chariot)

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Sindhu (Saindhava) horses

chariot (ratha)

weapons (śastra)

battlefield (raṇa)

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?

The verse highlights the ethical and practical importance of discipline and training in war: strength must be governed by control (dānta) and proper function (sādhu-vāhina). It also reflects a ruler’s concern for the readiness and steadiness of his forces amid the moral and physical chaos of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the condition and performance of the Sindhu-bred chariot-horses—whether they remained swift, steady, and unshaken by weapon-strikes and the terrifying sounds of combat—indicating intense concern for the battle’s momentum and his side’s military capability.