Shloka 37

तां नदीं क्षत्रिया: शूरा रथनागहयप्लवै: । प्रतेरुबहवोी राजन्‌ भयं त्यक्त्वा महारथा:,राजन! बहुत-से शूरवीर महारथी क्षत्रिय नौकाके समान घोड़े, रथ, हाथी आदिपर चढ़कर भयसे रहित हो उस नदीके पार जा रहे थे

tāṃ nadīṃ kṣatriyāḥ śūrā rathanāgahayaplavāḥ | praterur bahavo rājann bhayaṃ tyaktvā mahārathāḥ ||

Sañjaya said: O King, many valiant Kṣatriya warriors—great chariot-fighters—casting off fear, crossed that river, using chariots, elephants, and horses as though they were boats. The scene underscores the martial ethic of steadfastness: in the press of war, courage and resolve are treated as a duty, not merely a personal emotion.

ताम्that (river)
ताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
नदीम्river
नदीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनदी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
क्षत्रियाःKshatriyas
क्षत्रियाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्रिय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शूराःbrave
शूराः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशूर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रथनागहयप्लवैःwith (as) rafts—chariots, elephants, horses
रथनागहयप्लवैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ-नाग-हय-प्लव
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
प्रतेरुःthey crossed over
प्रतेरुः:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-तॄ
FormPerfect (Paroksha), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
बहवःmany
बहवः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
भयम्fear
भयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
त्यक्त्वाhaving abandoned
त्यक्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootत्यज्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active
महारथाःgreat chariot-warriors
महारथाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied by address rājan)
R
river (unnamed)
K
Kṣatriya warriors
M
mahārathas
C
chariots
E
elephants
H
horses

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the warrior ethic (kṣatriya-dharma): fear is to be set aside when duty calls. Courage here is portrayed as disciplined resolve in action, especially amid the demands of battle.

Sañjaya reports to the king that many elite Kṣatriya fighters are crossing a river, treating their chariots, elephants, and horses as makeshift means of flotation—like boats—showing urgency and fearlessness as the armies maneuver.