Shloka 42

उपायधर्म-सेनायोगः

Upāya-dharma and Senāyoga: Expedient Ethics & Army Deployment

Devanagari script

एवं संशप्तशपथा: समभित्यक्तजीविता: । अमित्रवाहिनीं वीरा: प्रतिगाहन्त्यभीरव:,जो इस प्रकार शपथ लेकर जीवनका मोह छोड़ देते हैं, वे वीर पुरुष निर्भय होकर शत्रुओंकी सेनामें घुस जाते हैं

Transliteration

evaṁ saṁśaptaśapathāḥ samabhityaktajīvitāḥ | amitravāhinīṁ vīrāḥ pratigāhanty abhīravāḥ ||

Translation

Demikianlah para pahlawan yang terikat oleh sumpah yang khidmat dan telah menanggalkan keterikatan pada hidup, memasuki barisan musuh tanpa gentar.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• संशप्त-शपथाः: having vowed (taken) a binding oath
• संशप्त-शपथाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशप्तशपथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समभित्यक्त-जीविताः: having completely abandoned (clung-to) life; ready to die
• समभित्यक्त-जीविताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समभित्यक्तजीवित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अमित्र-वाहिनीम्: the enemy army
• अमित्र-वाहिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्रवाहिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वीराः: heroes, brave men
• वीराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रतिगाहन्ति: enter, plunge into, charge into
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-गाह्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• अभीरवः: fearless
• अभीरवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• vīrāḥ (heroes/warriors)
• amitra (enemy)
• amitravāhinī (enemy army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A solemnly undertaken vow, aligned with one’s duty, demands unwavering resolve; the ideal warrior overcomes fear and attachment to life to act decisively in the face of danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes vowed warriors who, having pledged themselves and relinquished concern for personal survival, boldly charge into the enemy’s ranks.