Shloka 3

पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सानुकर्षा: सतूणीरा: सवरूथा: सतोमरा: । सोपासड्रा: सशक्तीका: सनिषड़ा: सहर्शय:,वे सब वीर अनुकर्ष (रथकी मरम्मतके लिये उसके नीचे बाँधा हुआ काष्ठ), तरकस, वरूथ (रथको ढकनेका बाघ आदिका चमड़ा), उपासंग (जिन्हें हाथी या घोड़े उठा सकें, ऐसे तरकस), तोमर, शक्ति, निषंग (पैदलों-द्वारा ले जाये जानेवाले तरकस), ऋष्टि (एक प्रकारकी लोहेकी लाठी), ध्वजा, पताका, धनुष-बाण, तरह-तरहकी रस्सियाँ, पाश, बिस्तर, कचग्रह-विक्षेप (बाल पकड़कर गिरानेका यन्त्र), तेल, गुड़, बालू, विषधर सर्पोंके घड़े, रालका चूरा, घण्टफलक ([घुँघचुरुओंवाली ढाल), खड्गादि लोहेके शस्त्र, औंटा हुआ गुड़का पानी, ढेले, साल, भिन्दिपाल (गोफियाँ), मोम चुपड़े हुए मुद्गर, काँटीदार लाठियाँ, हल विष लगे हुए बाण, सूप तथा टोकरियाँ, दरात, अंकुश, तोमर, काँटेदार कवच, बसूले, आरे आदि, बाघ और गैंड़ेके चमड़ेसे मढ़े हुए रथ, ऋष्टि, सींग, प्रास, भाँति-भाँतिके आयुध कुठार, कुदाल, तेलमें भींगे हुए रेशमी वस्त्र तथा घी लिये हुए थे

Transliteration

sānukarṣāḥ satūṇīrāḥ savarūthāḥ satomarāḥ | sopāsaḍrāḥ saśaktīkāḥ saniṣaḍāḥ saharśayaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: They were equipped in full—bearing the anukarṣa (the wooden support fixed beneath a chariot for repair and stability), quivers, protective coverings for the chariots, javelins, auxiliary quivers and gear, spears and lances, and various missile-weapons.

Word by Word

सानुकर्षाःhaving anukarsa (chassis/under-beam for chariot repair)

सतूणीराḥhaving quivers

सवरूथाःhaving chariot-covers/armour (varūtha)

सतोमराःhaving javelins (tomara)

सोपासड्राःhaving upāsadra/upāsaṅga (auxiliary quivers/weapon-holders)

सशक्तीकाःhaving spears/lances (śakti)

सनिषडाःhaving niṣaḍa/niṣaṅga (quivers carried by foot-soldiers)

सहर्षयःhaving r̥ṣṭis (iron staff/spear-like weapon)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

anukarṣa

tūṇīra (quiver)

varūtha (chariot-covering)

tomara (javelin)

upāsaḍra/upāsaṅga (auxiliary quiver/gear)

śakti (spear)

niṣaṅga/niṣaḍa (weapon-case/quiver)

harśaya/ṛṣṭi-type thrusting weapon

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 highlights disciplined preparedness and organized mobilization. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya-world’s emphasis on readiness and duty-bound action, showing that war—when it comes—is approached with planning and full provisioning rather than impulsive violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing forces being outfitted with chariot fittings and a range of weapons—quivers, coverings, javelins, spears, and related gear—indicating a large-scale, systematic preparation for the coming conflict in the Udyoga Parva.