Shloka 46

Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure

Ulūka–Yuyutsu; Śakuni–Sutasoma; Kṛpa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Kṛtavarmā–Śikhaṇḍin

Devanagari script

वैदूर्यमणिदण्डांश्व पतितांश्वाड्कुशान्‌ भुवि । अश्वानां च युगापीडान्‌ रत्नचित्रानुरश्छदान्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

vaidūryamaṇidaṇḍāṃś ca patitāṃś cāṅkuśān bhuvi |

aśvānāṃ ca yugāpīḍān ratnacitrān uraśchadān |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Look—on the ground lie fallen the staffs and goads inlaid with vaidūrya gems; the horses’ yoke-pads too are scattered about, along with jewel-adorned breast-guards. Such splendor, meant to guide and protect, now lies discarded in the dust—an image of how war reduces royal wealth and disciplined order to ruin.”

Word by Word

• वैदूर्य-मणि-दण्डान्: staffs/rods (made of vaidūrya-gems)
• वैदूर्य-मणि-दण्डान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अश्व-पतितान्: fallen down
• अश्व-पतितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अङ्कुशान्: goads
• अङ्कुशान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• अश्वानाम्: of horses
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• युग-पीडान्: yoke-pads / yoke-cushions
• युग-पीडान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीड
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रत्न-चित्रान्: adorned with gems
• रत्न-चित्रान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उरः-छदान्: breast-coverings / chest-armours
• उरः-छदान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• vaidūrya gem
• staffs/handles (daṇḍa)
• goads (aṅkuśa)
• horses (aśva)
• yoke-pads (yugāpīḍa)
• jewel-inlaid breast-guards (ratnacitra uraśchada)
• ground/earth (bhuvi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the impermanence of worldly power and ornament: objects of control (goads) and protection (breast-guards), once symbols of order and prestige, end up scattered in dust. It implicitly critiques attachment to external splendor when violence overturns stability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the battlefield aftermath: charioteering implements and horse-gear, along with jewel-adorned protective equipment, have fallen to the ground, indicating disorder, casualties, and the collapse of martial formations.