Shloka 19

Adhyāya 195 — Arjuna’s Capability and Restraint Regarding Divyāstras

Udyoga Parva

Devanagari script

तेषां विंशतिसाहस्रा हया: शूरैरधिषछिता: । पठ्च नागसहस्राणि रथवंशाशक्ष सर्वश:

Transliteration

teṣāṁ viṁśati-sāhasrā hayāḥ śūraiḥ adhiṣṭhitāḥ | pañca nāga-sahasrāṇi ratha-vaṁśāś ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Among them were twenty thousand horses, each mounted by valiant warriors; there were also five thousand elephants, and, in every quarter, many chariots as well. The description underscores the swelling momentum of war—experienced fighters, stirred to fierce resolve, assembling in overwhelming strength.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• विंशति: twenty
• Type: Numeral
• Root: विंशति
• Form: true

• साहस्राः: thousands (in number)
• साहस्राः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साहस्र
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• हयाः: horses
• हयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• शूरैः: by heroes/brave men
• शूरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• अधिष्ठिताः: mounted/occupied
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-स्था
• Form: past passive participle, masculine, nominative, plural

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Numeral
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: true

• नाग: elephant
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग
• Form: masculine, compound-member, —

• सहस्राणि: thousands (i.e., five thousand elephants)
• सहस्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

• रथ: chariot
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, compound-member, —

• वंशाः: lines/rows/companies
• वंशाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• अक्षौहिण्यः: armies (akṣauhiṇīs)
• अक्षौहिण्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणी
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• सर्वशः: altogether/in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशस्
• Form: true

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• horses (hayāḥ)
• elephants (nāgāḥ)
• chariots (rathāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how quickly conflict becomes institutional and massive: once war is set in motion, resources and seasoned fighters gather in great numbers. Ethically, it serves as a warning about escalation—power and preparedness can intensify adharma if not restrained by wise counsel and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing the composition and scale of assembled forces: a large cavalry contingent (20,000 horses with heroic riders), a substantial elephant corps (5,000), and numerous chariot formations spread throughout, indicating a fully mobilized army.