Shloka 38

Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra

Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन्‌ मद्राधिपतिरायसीम्‌ । उत्तरान्तकरीं शक्ति चिक्षेप भुजगोपमाम्‌,घोड़ोंके मारे जानेपर भी उसी रथपर बैठे हुए मद्रराज शल्यने लोहेकी बनी हुई एक शक्ति चलायी, जो सर्पके समान भयंकर और राजकुमार उत्तरका अन्त करनेवाली थी

Transliteration

sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan madrādhipatir āyasīm | uttarāntakarīṃ śaktiṃ cikṣepa bhujagopamām ||

Translation

ಕುದುರೆಗಳು ಸತ್ತರೂ, ಅದೇ ರಥದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತ ಮದ್ರಾಧಿಪತಿ ಶಲ್ಯನು ಕಬ್ಬಿಣದ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಎಸೆದನು—ಸರ್ಪದಂತೆ ಭಯಂಕರವಾದುದು, ಯುವರಾಜ ಉತ್ತರನ ಅಂತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿದುದು.

Word by Word

सःhe

हताश्वेin/ on the (chariot) whose horses were slain

रथेin the chariot

तिष्ठन्standing (remaining)

मद्राधिपतिःthe king/lord of Madra (Shalya)

आयसीम्made of iron

उत्तरान्तकरीम्bringing about Uttara's end (death-dealing to Uttara)

शक्तिम्a spear/javelin (shakti-weapon)

चand

चिक्षेपthrew, hurled

भुजगोपमाम्snake-like (terrible as a serpent)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śalya (king of Madra)

Uttara (prince)

ratha (chariot)

aśva (horses)

āyasī śakti (iron spear/javelin)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the relentless nature of war: even after suffering immediate loss (the chariot’s horses), a warrior persists and directs his prowess toward killing. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya valor and the tragic cost of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Śalya, king of Madra, still on his chariot despite its horses being slain, hurling an iron śakti (spear/javelin) that is serpent-like and aimed to kill Prince Uttara.