Shloka 48

Devanagari script

ते पुराणं महेष्वासा मार्गमैन्द्रं समास्थिता: । त्यक्ष्यन्ति तुमुले प्राणान्‌ रक्षन्त: पार्थिवं यश:,धृतराष्ट्रकी सभामें संजय पाण्डवोंका सन्देश सुना रहे हैं है जलन हू "60 >ट्र । भीमसेनका बल बखानते हुए धृतराष्ट्रका विलाप वे महाधनुर्धर भीष्म आदि पुरातन स्वर्गीय मार्गका आश्रय ले पार्थिव यशकी रक्षा करते हुए घमासान युद्धमें अपने प्राण त्याग देंगे

Transliteration

te purāṇaṁ maheṣvāsā mārga-maindraṁ samāsthitāḥ | tyakṣyanti tumule prāṇān rakṣantaḥ pārthivaṁ yaśaḥ ||

Translation

Those ancient heroes, mighty bowmen, having taken refuge in the age-old path that leads to Indra’s heaven, will, in the tumult of battle, relinquish their lives—seeking to preserve the kingly honor and renown.

Word by Word

तेthey

पुराणम्ancient, old

महेष्वासाःgreat bowmen

मार्गम्path

ऐन्द्रम्Indra’s, celestial

समास्थिताःhaving taken refuge in / having resorted to

त्यक्ष्यन्तिwill abandon, will give up

तुमुलेin the tumultuous (battle)

प्राणान्life-breaths, lives

रक्षन्तःprotecting

पार्थिवम्royal, kingly

यशःfame, glory

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Indra (svarga implied)

maheṣvāsāḥ (mighty bowmen; elders such as Bhīṣma implied by context)

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 a kṣatriya ideal: preserving royal honor (yaśas) may be valued even above life, and death in righteous battle is envisioned as an ancient path leading to Indra’s heaven—though Dhṛtarāṣṭra voices it with sorrow, not celebration.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva setting, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reacts to the tense pre-war developments and foresees that veteran warriors—mighty archers of the older generation—may die in the coming fierce conflict while trying to uphold the kingly reputation of their side.