Shloka 3

Book 3, Āraṇyaka-parva — Adhyāya 19: Pradyumna’s Reproach of Withdrawal and the Ethics of Kṣātra Reputation

Devanagari script

आमुष्मन्नुपदेशस्तु सारथ्ये वर्ततां स्मृत: । सर्वार्थेषु रथी रक्ष्यस्त्वं चापि भूशपीडित:,“आयुष्मन्‌! मैंने तो सारथ्यमें तत्पर रहनेवाले लोगोंके इस उपदेशका स्मरण किया था कि सभी दशाओंमें रथीकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये। उस समय आप भी अधिक पीड़ित थे

Transliteration

āyuṣman nupadeśas tu sārathye vartatāṁ smṛtaḥ | sarvārtheṣu rathī rakṣyas tvaṁ cāpi bhūśapīḍitaḥ ||

Translation

“O long-lived one, I remembered the instruction traditionally upheld among those devoted to charioteering: in every circumstance the chariot-warrior must be protected. At that time you too were greatly afflicted and under severe strain.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'āyuṣman', 'definition': 'O long-lived one

• a respectful address meaning ‘possessed of life/long life’'}, {'term': 'upadeśa', 'definition': 'instruction, counsel, teaching'}, {'term': 'sārathya', 'definition': 'the office/duty of a charioteer

• charioteering'}, {'term': 'vartatām', 'definition': 'of those engaged in / devoted to

• ‘of those who are occupied (in that duty)’'}, {'term': 'smṛtaḥ', 'definition': 'remembered

• also ‘recognized/handed down in tradition’'}, {'term': 'sarvārtheṣu', 'definition': 'in all matters

• in every situation/condition'}, {'term': 'rathī', 'definition': 'chariot-warrior

• the fighter who rides and battles from the chariot'}, {'term': 'rakṣyaḥ', 'definition': 'to be protected

• worthy/obligatory to protect'}, {'term': 'bhūśapīḍitaḥ', 'definition': 'greatly pressed/afflicted

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (Wind-god)
• sārathi (charioteer, as a role)
• rathī (chariot-warrior, as a role)
• ratha (chariot, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse states a professional-ethical rule of charioteering: regardless of circumstances, the charioteer’s foremost obligation is to safeguard the chariot-warrior. It frames protection of the principal fighter as a dharmic duty, even when the charioteer or companion is himself under strain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva speaks to someone addressed as ‘āyuṣman’, recalling a remembered traditional instruction connected with the role of a charioteer. He explains that his conduct was guided by this rule—protect the rathī in all situations—while noting that the addressee was also suffering greatly at that time.