Shloka 42

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)

Devanagari script

गदां तस्य परामृश्य तमेवाभ्यद्रवद्‌ बली । स चचार गदापाणिव॑द्धो 5पि तरुणो यथा

Transliteration

gadāṃ tasya parāmṛśya tamevābhyadravad balī | sa cacāra gadāpāṇir vṛddho 'pi taruṇo yathā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Seizing his mace, the mighty King Virāṭa leapt down from Suśarmā’s chariot and rushed straight at him. With the mace in hand, Virāṭa moved about the battlefield like a young man, though he was advanced in years—showing steadfast courage and a king’s resolve to protect his realm.

Word by Word

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• परामृश्य: having seized/taken hold of
• Type: Verb
• Root: परामृश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अभ्यद्रवत्: ran towards/charged
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बली: strong/mighty
• बली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• चचार: moved about/roamed
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गदापाणिवत्: like one having a mace in hand
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदापाणि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (indeclinable -वत्), Adverbial (comparison), Singular (usage)

• वृद्धः: old/aged
• वृद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even/though
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• तरुणः: young
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Virāṭa
• Suśarmā
• gadā (mace)
• ratha (chariot)
• raṇabhūmi (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: a ruler must show steadfast courage and readiness to defend his people. Virāṭa’s youthful vigor despite age underscores that resolve and duty can transcend physical limitations.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the battle, King Virāṭa jumps down from Suśarmā’s chariot, seizes Suśarmā’s mace, and charges directly at him, moving across the battlefield with the energy of a young warrior.