Shloka 17
अर्जुनस्योत्तरदिग्विजयः
Arjuna’s Northern Conquests and Tribute Collection
रथेन तेन वै कृष्ण उपारुह्मु ययौ तदा
rathena tena vai kṛṣṇa upāruhya yayau tadā |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。そこでクリシュナはその戦車に乗り込み、出立した。戦車は灼けた黄金のごとく輝き、小さな鈴を付した房飾りで飾られていた。その轟きは雲の深い咆哮に似ていた。敵を砕き、勝利を授ける車として名高い。クリシュナはその上に座して、その時旅路を進めた—王権の威光と武の備えに支えられた、目的ある行動の姿であった。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores purposeful action supported by appropriate means: royal authority and martial preparedness are portrayed as instruments that, when rightly employed, enable decisive movement toward one’s objective. The imagery of splendour and power also hints at responsibility—such force is meant to secure order and victory, not mere display.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kṛṣṇa mounts a renowned, brilliantly shining chariot—described with bells and a thunder-like rumble—and then departs. The focus is on the chariot’s formidable, victory-bringing character and Kṛṣṇa’s setting out upon it.