Shloka 18

Devanagari script

ततो<हं तं नमस्कृत्य रथमारुहय सत्वर: । प्राध्मापयं रणे शड्खं पुनर्हेमपरिष्कृतम्‌,तब मैं उन्हें नमस्कार करके शीघ्र ही रथपर जा बैठा और उस युद्धभूमिमें मैंने पुनः अपने सुवर्णजटित शंखको बजाया

Transliteration

tato 'haṃ taṃ namaskṛtya ratham āruhya satvaraḥ | prādhmāpayaṃ raṇe śaṅkhaṃ punar hemapariṣkṛtam ||

Translation

Then, having bowed to him in reverence, I swiftly mounted the chariot. There on the battlefield I once again sounded my conch, newly adorned with gold—an act that proclaims readiness for righteous combat and the resolve to act after paying due respect.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: common, nominative, singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active, prior action to main verb

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active, prior action to main verb

• सत्वरः: hastily, in haste
• सत्वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्वर
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• प्राध्मापयम्: I caused to be blown / I blew
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ध्मा
• Form: imperfect (लङ्), 1st, singular, active, true

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• हेमपरिष्कृतम्: adorned with gold
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम-परिष्कृत
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rama (speaker)
• Unnamed person addressed as 'tam' (him)
• Chariot (ratha)
• Battlefield (raṇa)
• Conch (śaṅkha), gold-adorned (hemapariṣkṛta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined conduct before conflict: one first offers due respect (namaskāra) and then acts decisively. Ethical action in war is framed as proceeding with reverence and resolve rather than impulsive aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker (Rama) salutes a respected figure, quickly mounts his chariot, and blows a gold-adorned conch on the battlefield—an audible declaration of preparedness and the formal commencement of martial engagement.