Shloka 23

Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation

Devanagari script

प्रतिगृह्म तु तद्‌ वाक्‍्यं रथस्थो रथसत्तम:

Transliteration

pratigṛhya tu tad vākyaṁ rathastho rathasattamaḥ

Translation

उन वचनों को स्वीकार करके रथ पर स्थित रथियों में श्रेष्ठ (कर्ण) ने—

Word by Word

• प्रतिगृह्य: having accepted / having received
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे), कर्तरि, अव्ययभाव (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech / statement / words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रथस्थः: standing in the chariot / chariot-mounted
• रथस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथसत्तमः: the best of chariot-warriors
• रथसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• ratha (chariot)
• rathasattamaḥ (an eminent chariot-warrior; specific identity implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined acceptance of counsel or command in a war setting: a noble warrior receives the spoken instruction and proceeds with composure, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of readiness and honor-bound action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates a transition: after someone speaks, the leading chariot-warrior (rathasattamaḥ), positioned on his chariot, accepts those words—preparing to act or reply as the battle episode continues.