Shloka 24

Devanagari script

तथैव रथशालासु प्रादुरासीद्भधुताशन: । ध्वजाश्वापि व्यशीर्यन्त भरतानामभूतये,इसी प्रकार हमारी रथशालाओंमें आग लग गयी और रथोंकी ध्वजाएँ जलकर खाक हो गयीं, जो भरत-वंशियोंके लिये अमंगलकी सूवना देनेवाली थीं

Transliteration

tathaiva rathaśālāsu prādurāsīd bāḍhutāśanaḥ | dhvajāśvā api vyaśīryanta bharatānām abhūtaye ||

Translation

“Likewise, in our chariot-sheds a fierce fire suddenly blazed forth. Even the banners and the horses were destroyed—portents foretelling calamity for the Bharata race.”

Word by Word

तथाthus, in the same way

एवindeed, just

रथशालासुin the chariot-sheds

प्रादुरासीत्appeared, arose, broke out

बहुताशनःthe great fire (lit. much-eater)

ध्वजाःbanners, standards

अश्वाःhorses

अपिalso, even

व्यशीर्यन्तwere destroyed, perished, were reduced (to ruin/ashes)

भरतानाम्of the Bharatas

अभूतयेfor misfortune, for ruin (as an ill-omen)

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

rathaśālā (chariot-sheds)

agni (fire)

dhvaja (banners/standards)

aśva (horses)

Bharatas (Bharata lineage)

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 underscores the Mahābhārata theme that collective wrongdoing and moral disorder are mirrored by ominous signs in the world; such portents warn rulers to reflect on dharma and the consequences of their choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra reports alarming portents: a sudden fire erupts in the Kuru chariot-sheds, destroying banners and even horses—interpreted as a sign of impending disaster for the Bharata clan.