Shloka 3
उत्तरो भयविषण्णः — बृहन्नडेन धैर्योपदेशः
Uttara’s Panic and Bṛhannadā’s Stabilizing Counsel
इस समय मुझे ऐसे किसी मनुष्यका पता नहीं है, जो मेरा सारथि बन सके। मैं युद्धके लिये प्रस्थान करूँगा, अत: शीघ्र मेरे लिये किसी योग्य सारथिकी तलाश करो ।। अष्टाविंशतिरात्रं वा मासं वा नूनमन्ततः । यत् तदासीन्महद् युद्ध तत्र मे सारथि्हत:,पहले लगातार अट्ठाईस राततक अथवा अन्ततः एक मासतक जो वह महायुद्ध हुआ उसमें मेरा सारथि मारा गया था
uttara uvāca | idānīṃ mama tādṛśaḥ kaścid api manuṣyo na vidyate yo me sārathiḥ syāt | ahaṃ yuddhāya prasthāsyāmi, ataḥ śīghraṃ mama kṛte kaṃcid yogyam sārathim anvicchata || aṣṭāviṃśati-rātraṃ vā māsaṃ vā nūnam antataḥ | yat tad āsīn mahad yuddhaṃ tatra me sārathiḥ hataḥ ||
Dijo Uttara: «En este momento no conozco a hombre alguno que pueda ser mi auriga. Parto a la guerra; por ello, buscadme pronto un auriga digno. Pues en aquella gran batalla de antaño, que duró sin cesar veintiocho noches —o, al fin, un mes entero—, mi auriga fue muerto allí».
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights that martial leadership is not merely personal courage; it depends on competent support and proper preparation. Uttara’s urgency to find a qualified charioteer underscores the ethical responsibility to avoid reckless action in war and to rely on appropriate expertise.
Prince Uttara declares he is ready to depart for battle but lacks a charioteer. He asks that a suitable driver be found quickly, explaining that his previous charioteer was killed in an earlier prolonged and severe conflict.