Shloka 46

Yuddha-yajña-vyākhyāna (The Battle as Sacrifice): Ambarīṣa–Indra Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

वराप्सर:सहस्राणि शूरमायोधने हतम्‌

Transliteration

varāpsaraḥ-sahasrāṇi śūram āyodhane hatam

Translation

Ambarīṣa said: “Thousands of celestial nymphs (Apsarases) have been promised as a boon to the hero who is slain on the battlefield.”

Word by Word

• वरा: excellent, choice
• वरा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• अप्सरः: Apsarases (celestial nymphs)
• अप्सरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• शूरम्: the hero/warrior
• शूरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आयोधने: in battle
• आयोधने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयोधन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• हतम्: slain/killed
• हतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

अम्बरीष उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa
• Apsarases
• battlefield

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights how warfare can be framed through promised rewards—here, sensual heavenly incentives—raising an ethical question central to Śānti Parva: whether dharma should be pursued for truth and duty or for alluring recompense.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ambarīṣa states that a vast reward—thousands of Apsarases—is being held out in connection with a warrior’s death in battle, reflecting the discourse on the motivations and consequences surrounding violence and heroic death.