Shloka 38

नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च

Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault

Devanagari script

रथिनो रथमारुहा प्रद्रुता वेगवत्तरम्‌

Transliteration

rathino rathamāruhā pradrutā vegavattaram

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。「戦車の戦士たちは、自らの戦車に乗り込むや、いっそう激しい速さで前へと突進した――戦の切迫した勢いに駆り立てられ、決意も焦りもまた、人を自ら選び取った務めと危難へと押しやるのである。」

Word by Word

• रथिनः: chariot-warriors
• रथिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आरुहाः: having mounted / mounted upon
• आरुहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रुह्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रद्रुताः: having run forth / rushing
• प्रद्रुताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-द्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वेगवत्तरम्: more swiftly / with greater speed
• वेगवत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariot-warriors
• chariots

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, trained warriors act decisively and swiftly once committed—suggesting the ethical tension of kshatriya-dharma: when duty is accepted, hesitation gives way to resolute action, even amid danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the chariot-fighters have mounted their chariots and are charging ahead with increased speed, indicating an escalation in the battle’s intensity and urgency.