Shloka 9

Devanagari script

सहस्सूर्य: शतकिड्किणीक:ः परार्द्धवजाम्बूनदहेमचित्र: । रथोड<र्जुनस्याग्निरिवार्चिमाली विशभ्राजते श्वेतहय: सुचक्र:,अर्जुनका रथ ज्वालमालाओंसे युक्त अग्निके समान शोभा पा रहा था। उसमें सूर्यकी आकृतिके सहसौरों चक्र विद्यमान थे। सैकड़ों क्षुद्र घंटिकाएँ लगी थीं। बहुमूल्य जाम्बूनद नामक सुवर्णसे भूषित होनेके कारण उस रथकी विचित्र शोभा हो रही थी। उसमें श्वेत रंगके घोड़े और सुन्दर पहिये लगे थे

Transliteration

saḥ sahasra-sūryaḥ śata-kiṅkiṇīkaḥ parārdhya-vajra-jāmbūnada-hema-citraḥ | ratho 'rjunasya agnir ivārci-mālī viśa-bhrājate śveta-hayaḥ su-cakraḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Kereta Arjuna menyala bagaikan api yang berkalungkan lidah-lidah nyala. Ia berkilau laksana seribu matahari, berdenting oleh ratusan lonceng kecil, dan dihiasi perhiasan mahal bak vajra serta emas Jāmbūnada yang beraneka. Ditarik kuda-kuda putih dan beroda indah, kereta itu tampak gemilang—pertanda kedahsyatan daya perang menjelang pertempuran dharma.

Word by Word

सहस्रसूर्यःhaving (the splendor of) a thousand suns

शतकिङ्किणीकःhaving hundreds of small bells

परार्ध्यवजाम्बूनदहेमचित्रःadorned with excellent Jāmbūnada gold and variegated (ornamentation)

रथःchariot

अर्जुनस्यof Arjuna

अग्निःfire

इवlike, as

अर्चिमालीgarlanded with flames; flame-crested

विभ्राजतेshines forth, gleams

श्वेतहयःhaving white horses

सुचक्रःhaving fine wheels

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna

Arjuna’s chariot

white horses (śveta-hayāḥ)

wheels (cakrāṇi)

bells (kiṅkiṇikāḥ)

Jāmbūnada gold (jāmbūnada-hema)

fire (agni)

sun (sūrya)

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 emphasizes how outward splendor in a dharmic war functions as a sign of preparedness and auspicious strength: the righteous side is portrayed as radiant, disciplined, and well-equipped, suggesting that ethical resolve (dharma) should be matched by capability and steadfastness in action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is narrating to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield scene, describing Arjuna’s chariot in vivid, hyperbolic imagery—its blazing radiance, rich gold ornamentation, ringing bells, white horses, and fine wheels—highlighting Arjuna’s formidable presence as the armies prepare for combat.