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Shloka 40

अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया

Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall

सारथिं चास्य तरसा प्राहिणोद्‌ यमसादनम्‌ | भल्लेन शितधारेण स हत: प्रापतद्‌ रथात्‌,रणभूमिमें उस दुर्जय शस्त्रवर्षाकों रोकी गयी देख धृष्टद्युम्नने कृतवर्मापर आक्रमण करके उसे आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया और उसके सारथिको तीखी धारवाले भल्लसे वेगपूर्वक मारकर यमलोक भेज दिया। मारा गया सारथि रथसे नीचे गिर पड़ा

sārathiṁ cāsya tarasā prāhiṇod yamasādanam | bhallena śitadhāreṇa sa hataḥ prāpatad rathāt |

サンジャヤは言った。彼は疾風の勢いで、鋭い刃のバッラ(bhalla)を放ち、その男の御者を閻魔の住処へと送り込んだ。討たれた御者は戦車から戦場へと落ちた——苛烈な戦の掟の中、操縦と機動の要を断って敵の前進を止める一撃である。

सारथिम्charioteer
सारथिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसारथि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अस्यof him / his
अस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
तरसाwith speed, forcibly
तरसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतरस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
प्राहिणोत्sent forth, dispatched
प्राहिणोत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-हि (धातु: हि/हिणोति)
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
यमसादनम्to Yama's abode (death)
यमसादनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयमसादन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भल्लेनwith a bhalla-arrow
भल्लेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभल्ल
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
शितधारेणsharp-edged
शितधारेण:
TypeAdjective
Rootशितधार
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हतःkilled, slain
हतः:
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (क्त)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)
प्रापतत्fell down
प्रापतत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-पत्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
रथात्from the chariot
रथात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
S
sārathi (charioteer)
Y
Yama
Y
yamasādana (abode of Yama)
B
bhalla (weapon/arrow)
R
ratha (chariot)
R
raṇabhūmi (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the stark reality of war: death is ever-present and is poetically framed as being sent to Yama’s realm. It also reflects battlefield pragmatism—disabling an enemy’s chariot by killing the charioteer—within the harsh framework of kṣatriya conduct.

In the midst of combat, a warrior strikes the opponent’s charioteer with a sharp bhalla, killing him. The charioteer then falls from the chariot onto the battlefield, effectively checking the opponent’s movement and momentum.