Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

सहर्षय: सश्‌ड्राश्व सप्रासविविधायुधा: । सकुठारा: सकुद्दाला: सतैलक्षौमसर्पिष:,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

saharṣayaḥ saṣḍrāśva saprāsavividhāyudhāḥ | sakuṭhārāḥ sakuddālāḥ satailakṣaumasarpiṣaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: They came in high spirits—together with seers—bringing teams of horses, spears, and many kinds of weapons. They also carried axes and spades, along with oil, fine linen, and ghee—supplies and implements meant to sustain and equip the great war-effort, where both combat and logistics move side by side.

Word by Word

सहर्षयःalong with sages / having sages (with them)

सशड्राश्वाःwith six horses / having six horses

सप्रासविविधायुधाःwith spears and various weapons / having spears and diverse arms

सकुठाराःwith axes / having axes

सकुद्दालाःwith spades / having spades

सतैलक्षौमसर्पिषःwith oil, linen, and ghee / having oil, linen cloth, and ghee

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Ṛ

ṛṣis (seers)

horses

spears (prāsa)

weapons (āyudha)

axes (kuṭhāra)

spades (kuddāla)

oil (taila)

linen (kṣauma)

ghee (sarpiṣ)

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?

Even in a dharma-framed conflict, victory is not only about valor but also about disciplined preparation—tools, provisions, and organization. The verse highlights the ethical realism of governance and warfare: responsibility includes sustaining people and resources, not merely wielding weapons.

What is happening in the narrative?

A contingent arrives enthusiastically, accompanied by seers, bringing horses, spears, assorted weapons, and practical supplies like oil, cloth, and ghee—indicating large-scale mobilization and readiness for impending war.