Shloka 17

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

सूपस्करेषु शुभ्रेषु महत्सु च महारथा:

Transliteration

sūpaskareṣu śubhreṣu mahatsu ca mahārathāḥ

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The great chariot-warriors were placed amid splendid, well-appointed, and imposing equipages—an image of royal preparedness and martial dignity, where outward order and abundance signal the gravity of the coming action.

Word by Word

• सूपस्करेषु: in well-equipped (things/places), among good equipments
• सूपस्करेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूपस्कर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• शुभ्रेषु: in white/bright (ones)
• शुभ्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• महत्सु: in great/large (ones)
• महत्सु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• mahārathāḥ (great chariot-warriors)
• sūpaskara (equipment/gear, conveyances)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined readiness: splendor and proper equipment are not mere luxury but signs of order, responsibility, and the seriousness with which warriors approach impending duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a scene where elite warriors are associated with grand, well-prepared conveyances or arrangements, setting the atmosphere of organized martial action and royal-scale mobilization.