Shloka 31

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 26 — Duryodhana’s remnant formation and rapid engagements

Devanagari script

श्रुतर्वा विरथो राजन्नाददे खड़्गचर्मणी । अथास्याददत: खड्गं शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत्‌

Transliteration

śrutārvā viratho rājann ādade khaḍgacarmaṇī | athāsyādadatāḥ khaḍgaṃ śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, Śrutārvā, now without a chariot, took up sword and shield. Then, as he was being equipped, he was given a radiant sword marked with a hundred moon-emblems. In the midst of chaos and loss, the warrior steadies himself by accepting the means of protection and duty, choosing readiness over despair.

Word by Word

• श्रुतर्वा: Shrutarvan (proper name)
• श्रुतर्वा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुतर्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विरथः: without a chariot, dismounted
• विरथः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• आददे: took up, seized
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• खड्गचर्मणी: the sword and the shield
• खड्गचर्मणी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग-चर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Dual

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अस्य: of him, his
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• आददतः: while he was taking (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: Present active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शतचन्द्रम्: having a hundred moon-marks (ornamented with many crescents)
• शतचन्द्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत-चन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भानुमत्: shining, radiant
• भानुमत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भानुमत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'rājan')
• Śrutārvā
• sword (khaḍga)
• shield (carma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when one’s support-system collapses (here, the loss of a chariot), a kṣatriya is expected to regain composure, accept proper equipment, and continue one’s duty with steadiness rather than panic—an ethic of resilience and disciplined action in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king that Śrutārvā has become ‘viratha’ (without his chariot) and therefore takes up sword and shield; he is then handed a brilliant, ornamented sword described as ‘śatacandra’ (with a hundred moon-like emblems).