Shloka 21
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
Devanagari script
उपाकृत्य तु वै विद्यामाचार्ये भ्यो नरर्षभा:
Transliteration
upākṛtya tu vai vidyām ācāryebhyo nararṣabhāḥ
Translation
サンジャヤは言った。「師たちから正しく学芸を授かり、これを修めたのち、あの雄牛のごとき勇士たちは……」
Word by Word
उपाकृत्यhaving rendered/paid (service); having done (in attendance)
उपाकृत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-आ-√कृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
वैindeed/verily
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
विद्याम्knowledge; learning
विद्याम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
आचार्येभ्यःfrom the teachers/preceptors
आचार्येभ्यः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootआचार्य
FormMasculine, Ablative, Plural
नरर्षभाःbulls among men; best of men
नरर्षभाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनरर्षभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaĀ
ācārya (teachers/preceptors)N
nararṣabhāḥ (foremost men/warriors)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The line foregrounds the dharmic ideal of learning received through proper discipleship: knowledge—especially martial and ethical discipline—is to be acquired respectfully from qualified teachers, and such training is presented as a mark of noble character.
Sañjaya is describing eminent warriors as having completed their instruction under their preceptors; the verse functions as a lead-in to subsequent actions in the war narrative, grounding their prowess and conduct in formal training.