Mahabharata 7.173.23 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 173, Shloka 23

Śiva’s Battlefield Manifestation and Vyāsa’s Śatarudrīya Exposition (शिवप्रादुर्भावः शतरुद्रीयव्याख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

विरथो विधनुष्कश्न सर्वलोकेश्वर: प्रभु: । आरुरोह रथं तूर्ण भास्वरं कृतवर्मण:,तब सम्पूर्ण जगत्‌का स्वामी शक्तिशाली वीर दुर्योधन धनुष और रथसे हीन होकर तुरंत ही कृतवर्माके तेजस्वी रथपर आरूढ़ हो गया

Transliteration

viratho vidhanuṣkaś ca sarvalokeśvaraḥ prabhuḥ | ārurōha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ bhāsvaraṃ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ત્યારે સર્વલોकेશ્વર-પ્રભુ દુર્યોધન રથવિહોણો અને ધનુષવિહોણો બની ત્વરિત કૃતવર્માના તેજસ્વી રથ પર ચઢી ગયો.

Word by Word

• विरथः: without a chariot
• विरथः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विधनुष्कः: without a bow
• विधनुष्कः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धनुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वलोकेश्वरः: lord of all worlds
• सर्वलोकेश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-लोक-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रभुः: mighty lord
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आरुरोह: mounted / ascended
• आरुरोह: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुह् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)

• भास्वरम्: shining, radiant
• भास्वरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृतवर्मणः: of Kṛtavarman
• Type: Noun (Proper name)
• Root: कृतवर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Duryodhana
• Kritavarman
• chariot
• bow

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly power and titles do not prevent sudden reversals in war; when stripped of resources, even a ‘lord’ must rely on comrades. The verse highlights the ethical reality of interdependence and the instability of fortune on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana has lost his chariot and bow, becoming exposed and disadvantaged. To continue the fight and regain mobility, he quickly climbs onto Kṛtavarman’s splendid chariot.