Shloka 74

अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः

Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge

Devanagari script

रथमास्थाय रुचिरं राजतं पाण्ड्रैर्हयै: । सूपस्करं स्वधिष्ठानं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्‌

Transliteration

ratham āsthāya ruciraṁ rājataṁ pāṇḍrair hayaiḥ | sūpaskaraṁ svadhiṣṭhānaṁ vaiyāghraparivāraṇam ||

Translation

Bhishma dijo: «Monté en un espléndido carro de plata, tirado por caballos de blanco pálido, provisto de todo equipo, firmemente asentado en su propia plataforma bien hecha y protegido en derredor con cubiertas de piel de tigre.»

Word by Word

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थाय: having mounted/ascended
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस्था (आ + स्था)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• रुचिरम्: beautiful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजतम्: silver (made of silver)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पाण्ड्रैः: with pale/whitish
• पाण्ड्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्ड्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• हयैः: horses
• हयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सूपस्करम्: well-equipped
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-उपस्कर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्वधिष्ठानम्: having its own proper base/seat; well-seated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-धिष्ठान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्: having tiger-skin coverings/guards
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैयाघ्र-परिवारण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• chariot (ratha)
• horses (haya)
• silver (rājata)
• tiger-skin covering (vaiyāghra-parivāraṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined preparedness and the outward signs of kṣatriya responsibility: in a dharma-crisis, one must be properly equipped and steady, not reckless—readiness serves duty rather than vanity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes the mounting of a magnificent, well-appointed chariot drawn by pale-white horses, protected with tiger-skin coverings—signaling imminent movement and the formal mobilization associated with the approaching conflict.