Shloka 19

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद्‌ वचन श्रुत्वा मातलिः शक्रसारथि: । आरुरोह रथं शीघ्र हयान्‌ येमे च रश्मिभि:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! अर्जुनका यह वचन सुनकर इन्द्रसारथि मातलि शीघ्र ही रथपर जा बैठा और बागडोर खींचकर घोड़ोंको काबूमें किया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā mātaliḥ śakra-sārathiḥ | ārurōha rathaṃ śīghraṃ hayān yeme ca raśmibhiḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Hearing those words of his, Mātali—the charioteer of Śakra (Indra)—quickly mounted the chariot and, drawing the reins, brought the horses under control.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

तस्यof him/that

तत्that

वचनम्speech, words

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

मातलिःMātali

शक्रसारथिःIndra's charioteer

आरुरोहmounted, ascended

रथम्chariot

शीघ्रम्quickly

हयान्horses

येमेrestrained, controlled

चand

रश्मिभिःwith reins

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Mātali

Śakra (Indra)

chariot (ratha)

horses (haya)

reins (raśmi)

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 disciplined duty: a trusted attendant responds promptly and with self-control, showing that effective action in a righteous cause requires readiness, restraint, and obedience to proper instruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Arjuna’s words (implied by context), Mātali, Indra’s charioteer, swiftly climbs onto the chariot and tightens the reins to steady and control the horses, preparing for immediate departure or action.