Shloka 42

Devanagari script

रथांश्व विविधान्‌ राजन्‌ पताका व्यजनानि च । अक्षं च युगयोक्‍त्राणि चक्राणि विविधानि च

Transliteration

rathāṁśva vividhān rājan patākā vyajanāni ca | akṣaṁ ca yugayoktrāṇi cakrāṇi vividhāni ca ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O King, there were chariots and horses of many kinds, along with banners and fly-whisks; and likewise axles, yokes and harness-ropes, and wheels of various sorts.”

Word by Word

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

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विविधान्: various, diverse
• विविधान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पताकाः: banners, flags
• पताकाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• व्यजनानि: fans (chowries)
• व्यजनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यजन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• अक्षम्: axle
• अक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• युगयोक्‍त्राणि: yoke-straps, harness-tethers
• युगयोक्‍त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगयोक्‍त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• चक्राणि: wheels
• चक्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• विविधानि: various, diverse
• विविधानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied by 'rājan')
• chariots
• horses
• banners/standards
• fly-whisks/fans
• axles
• yokes and harness-ropes
• wheels

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the immense, ornate machinery of war—chariots, horses, standards, and fittings—inviting reflection on how royal power and craftsmanship are mobilized toward destruction, and how outward grandeur can mask inner tragedy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is reporting to the king a vivid inventory of battlefield resources and chariot-gear, emphasizing the scale and variety of the martial preparations and the royal display accompanying the conflict.