Shloka 54
एकचक्रं रथं तस्य तमूहुः सुचिरं हया: । एकचक्रमिवार्कस्य रथं सप्त हया यथा,कर्णके घोड़े उसके एक पहियेवाले रथको बहुत देरतक ढोते रहे, मानो सूर्यके सात अश्व उनके एक चक्रवाले रथको खींच रहे हैं
ekacakraṁ rathaṁ tasya tam ūhuḥ suciraṁ hayāḥ | ekacakram ivārkasya rathaṁ sapta hayā yathā ||
Sañjaya berkata—Kereta itu, yang tinggal beroda satu, tetap ditarik kuda-kudanya untuk waktu yang lama; bagaikan kereta beroda satu milik Surya yang ditarik oleh tujuh ekor kuda.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse does not state a direct moral injunction; its ethical force lies in portraying unwavering martial drive (kṣatriya-dharma) through a cosmic comparison. By likening a warrior’s chariot to the Sun’s chariot, it underscores how battlefield action can be framed as inexorable, awe-inspiring, and larger than the individual—inviting reflection on the grandeur and peril of war-driven duty.
Sañjaya describes a warrior’s chariot that has only one wheel being drawn onward for a long time by its horses. The image suggests damage or extreme strain in combat, yet continued movement. The simile—like the Sun’s one-wheeled chariot drawn by seven horses—amplifies the spectacle and speed/endurance of the advance.