Shloka 7

Devanagari script

अचलो वृषकश्चैव कर्णश्न राथिनां वर: । तथा शल्यश्न बलवान्‌ बाह्विकश्चन महाबल:

Transliteration

acalo vṛṣakaś caiva karṇaś ca rathināṁ varaḥ | tathā śalyaś ca balavān bāhlīkaś ca mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

वैशम्पायन बोले—अचल और वृषक, तथा रथियों में श्रेष्ठ कर्ण; इसी प्रकार बलवान् शल्य और महाबली बाह्लीक भी (वहाँ) थे।

Word by Word

अचलःAchala (a warrior named Achala)

वृषकःVṛṣaka (a warrior named Vṛṣaka)

चand

एवindeed/also

कर्णःKarna

रथिनाम्of chariot-warriors

वरःthe best/excellent

तथाlikewise/so

शल्यःShalya

बलवान्strong/mighty

बाह्विकःBāhvika (a warrior named Bāhvika)

चand

महाबलःvery strong/mighty

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Acala

Vṛṣaka

Karṇa

Śalya

Bāhlīka

rathin (chariot-warrior)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how political assemblies and decisions are often framed by the presence of celebrated military power; ethical judgment (dharma in counsel) can be pressured or emboldened when great warriors stand behind a cause.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana enumerates prominent chariot-warriors present/recognized in the context, naming Acala, Vṛṣaka, Karṇa, Śalya, and Bāhlīka, emphasizing the formidable strength aligned with the Kuru court.