Shloka 10

Devanagari script

शोणाश्चयुक्तेषु रथेषु सर्वे मखेषु दीप्ता इव हव्यवाहा: । अड्भरारक: कुण्जरो गुप्तकश्न शत्रुज्जय: संजयसुप्रवृद्धौं

Transliteration

śoṇāś ca yuktēṣu rathēṣu sarvē makhēṣu dīptā iva havyavāhāḥ | aḍbharārakaḥ kuñjaro guptakaśna śatrujjayaḥ sañjayasupṛvṛddhau

Translation

Koṭika said: “All of them stood upon their harnessed chariots, blazing like sacrificial fires at a rite. (Among them were) Aḍbharāraka, Kuñjara, Guptakaśna, Śatruñjaya, and the two—Sañjaya and Supravṛddha—renowned for their strength.”

Word by Word

शोणाःred, ruddy

चand

युक्तेषुyoked, harnessed

रथेषुin chariots

सर्वेall

मखेषुin sacrifices

दीप्ताःblazing, shining

इवlike, as if

हव्यवाहाःfire(s) (lit. carrier of oblations)

अड्भरारकःAḍbharāraka (proper name)

कुञ्जरःKunjara (proper name; lit. elephant)

गुप्तकश्नGuptakaśna (proper name; reading uncertain)

शत्रुज्जयःŚatrujaya (proper name; lit. conqueror of enemies)

संजयSañjaya (proper name)

सुप्रवृद्धौthe two very much grown/strong

Speaker

कोटिक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Koṭika

ratha (chariot)

makha (sacrifice)

havyavāha (Agni, sacrificial fire)

Aḍbharāraka

Kuñjara

Guptakaśna

Śatruñjaya

Sañjaya

Supravṛddha

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 frames martial readiness through sacrificial imagery: warriors on prepared chariots are compared to the sacred fire that bears offerings. It suggests disciplined, purposeful power—energy directed by order (yoking, formation) rather than mere violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Koṭika lists and highlights notable figures assembled for action. They are depicted standing on harnessed chariots, shining intensely, and several warriors are named in a catalogue-style description.