Shloka 40

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

Devanagari script

अथास्य तं रथं दिव्यं तिलशो व्यधमच्छरै: । पताकां चक्ररक्षांश्ष॒ गदां खड्गं च मारिष

Transliteration

athāsya taṁ rathaṁ divyaṁ tilaśo vyadhamac charaiḥ | patākāṁ cakrarakṣāṁś ca gadāṁ khaḍgaṁ ca māriṣa

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then he shattered that splendid, celestial chariot into fragments with his arrows; and he struck down its banner and its wheel-guards, and also the mace and the sword—O noble one. The verse underscores the ruthless precision of battlefield skill, where even revered emblems and weapons are methodically destroyed, reminding the listener that in war, prowess often overwhelms symbols of honor and protection.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अस्य: of him/this (his)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• दिव्यम्: divine, splendid
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• तिलशः: into pieces, bit by bit
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिलशस्

• व्यधमत्: he shattered/smashed
• व्यधमत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्मा
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• पताकाम्: banner, flag
• पताकाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• चक्ररक्षान्: wheel-guards (protectors of the wheels)
• चक्ररक्षान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्ररक्ष
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

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

• मारिष: O sir! (term of address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारिष
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• ratha (divine chariot)
• śara (arrows)
• patākā (banner/standard)
• cakra-rakṣā (wheel-guards)
• gadā (mace)
• khaḍga (sword)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in the harsh ethics of battlefield duty, effectiveness and precision can eclipse outward symbols of grandeur—divine chariots, banners, and weapons are still subject to destruction. It points to the fragility of status and protection when confronted by determined martial prowess.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a warrior (implied by context) attacks an opponent’s splendid chariot with arrows, breaking it into pieces and striking down its banner, wheel-guards, and even the mace and sword—depicting a decisive disabling of the enemy’s mobility, protection, and armament.