Shloka 37

Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)

Devanagari script

अपोवाह रणात्तूर्ण सारथी रथिनां वरम्‌

Transliteration

apovāha raṇāt tūrṇaṁ sārathī rathināṁ varam

Translation

Sañjaya said: The charioteer swiftly drove the foremost of chariot-warriors away from the battlefield—an urgent withdrawal amid the press of war, undertaken to preserve the fighter and the chariot when the situation demanded it.

Word by Word

• अपोवाह: carried away / drove away
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + वह्
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), 3rd, singular, परस्मैपद

• रणात्: from the battle
• रणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण

• सारथी: the charioteer
• सारथी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• रथिनाम्: of the chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• वरम्: the best
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• सारथी (charioteer)
• रथिनां वर (foremost chariot-warrior)
• रण (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, discernment and timely withdrawal can be a form of duty: the charioteer’s responsibility is not only to charge forward but also to preserve the warrior and resources when the moment calls for it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the charioteer quickly steers the foremost chariot-warrior away from the battlefield, indicating a tactical retreat or removal from immediate peril.