Shloka 403

अध्याय २६ — शल्यस्य सारथ्य-नियोजनं, कर्णस्य प्रस्थानं, उत्पातदर्शनं च

Chapter 26: Śalya appointed as charioteer; Karṇa’s departure; portents

Devanagari script

श्रमेण महता युक्ता मनोमारुतरंहस: । मन और वायुके समान वेगशाली घोड़े भी वहाँ धँसते हुए पहियोंको बड़े परिश्रमसे खींच पाते थे

Transliteration

śrameṇa mahatā yuktā manomārutaraṃhasaḥ | manaḥ-vāyu-samāna-vegāśvā api tatra dhvaṃsateṣu cakreṣu mahāśrameṇa ākarṣituṃ śekuḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Even those horses, swift as thought and as the wind, could only haul the chariot there with immense exertion, for the wheels sank into the ground. Thus the field of war showed that not valor alone, but endurance and the very limits of strength, decide what can be done.

Word by Word

• श्रमेन: by exertion
• श्रमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महता: great
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• युक्ताः: endowed/engaged (with)
• युक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मनः: of the mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मारुत: of the wind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रंहसः: of speed/impetus
• Type: Noun
• Root: रंहस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• horses
• chariot wheels
• wind (as simile)
• mind/thought (as simile)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even extraordinary power and speed are constrained by conditions; in dharmic reflection, this highlights the role of sustained effort (śrama) and the reality of limits amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes difficult battlefield ground where the chariot wheels sink, so even very swift horses can pull the chariot only with great exertion.