Shloka 19

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 34: Balarāma’s Withdrawal, Sarasvatī Pilgrimage Logistics, and Prabhāsa as Soma’s Renewal Tīrtha

Devanagari script

तेषां मध्ये महाबाहु: श्रीमान्‌ केशवपूर्वज:

Transliteration

teṣāṁ madhye mahābāhuḥ śrīmān keśavapūrvajaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Parmi eux se tenait l’homme aux bras puissants, illustre et rayonnant, l’aîné de Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)—se distinguant par sa prestance et sa force au milieu des guerriers assemblés.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• श्रीमान्: splendid, illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• केशव: of Keshava (Krishna)
• केशव: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• पूर्वजः: elder brother; one born earlier
• पूर्वजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वज
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Keśavapūrvaja (Balarāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how true eminence is recognized through visible qualities—strength, dignity, and noble standing—especially in moments of collective crisis like war, where character and stature become ethically significant markers of leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a prominent figure present among the gathered warriors: the mighty and illustrious elder brother of Keśava (Kṛṣṇa), i.e., Balarāma, emphasizing his distinguished presence within the assembly.