Shloka 40

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

पट्टिशं त्वन्वगाद्‌ राजऊछत्र रौद्र महाप्रभम्‌

Transliteration

paṭṭiśaṃ tv anvagād rājocchatra raudra mahāprabham

Translation

Dijo Mārkaṇḍeya: «Entonces el rey avanzó tras él, empuñando una lanza: terrible a la vista y encendida de gran poder». El verso subraya la persecución resuelta del monarca y la sombría intensidad justa que suele acompañar el deber real en momentos de conflicto.

Word by Word

• पट्टिशम्: a spear/halberd (pattiśa)
• पट्टिशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्टिश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अन्वगात्: followed/went after
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-गम्
• Form: Aorist (simple past), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्छत्रम्: having a raised umbrella/royal (with umbrella held aloft)
• उच्छत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रौद्रम्: fierce/terrible
• रौद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाप्रभम्: of great splendor/mighty
• महाप्रभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्रभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• the king (rājā)
• paṭṭiśa (spear)
• royal parasol/umbrella (ucchatra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kingly ideal of steadfast resolve: when duty calls, a ruler must act decisively, even amid fearsome circumstances, carrying the symbols and instruments of sovereignty and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a moment of pursuit: the king moves forward after someone (implied by ‘after him’), armed with a spear and marked by fierce, formidable power—suggesting an imminent confrontation.