Shloka 9

Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)

Devanagari script

आयुष्म॑स्त्वं मया नित्यं॑ रक्षितव्यस्त्वयाप्यहम्‌ । रक्षितव्यो रथी नित्यमिति कृत्वापयाम्यहम्‌,आयुष्मन्‌! मुझे आपकी और आपको मेरी सदा रक्षा करनी चाहिये। रथी सारथिके द्वारा सदा रक्षणीय है, इस कर्तव्यका विचार करके ही मैं रणभूमिसे लौट रहा हूँ

Transliteration

āyuṣman tvaṃ mayā nityaṃ rakṣitavyas tvayāpy aham | rakṣitavyo rathī nityam iti kṛtvāpayāmy aham, āyuṣman ||

Translation

O long-lived one, you must always be protected by me, and I too must be protected by you. Reflecting on this duty—that a chariot-warrior must ever be safeguarded by his charioteer—I am therefore withdrawing from the battlefield, O blessed one.

Word by Word

• {'āyuṣman': 'O long-lived one

• a respectful address meaning ‘possessed of life/fortune’', 'tvam': 'you', 'mayā': 'by me', 'nityam': 'always, constantly', 'rakṣitavyaḥ': 'to be protected

• ought to be guarded (gerundive expressing duty)', 'tvayā api': 'by you also', 'aham': 'I', 'rathī': 'chariot-warrior

• one who fights from a chariot', 'sārathi (implied by context)': 'charioteer

• driver and protector of the chariot-warrior', 'iti': 'thus', 'kṛtvā': 'having considered/decided

• having made (this thought)', 'apayāmi': 'I withdraw, I go away/retreat', 'raṇabhūmi (implied by context)': 'battlefield'}

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• rathī (chariot-warrior)
• sārathi (charioteer, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches reciprocal dharma: protection is a mutual obligation. The warrior depends on the charioteer for safety and guidance, and the charioteer likewise relies on the warrior; recognizing this interdependence, one should act according to duty rather than impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses a respected person (‘āyuṣman’) and explains his decision to withdraw from the battlefield. He grounds the retreat in the ethical principle that a chariot-warrior must be continually protected by his charioteer, and that their safeguarding is mutual.