Shloka 6

Karṇa–Sūrya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dāna, and the Amoghā Śakti (कर्ण–सूर्यसंवादः)

Devanagari script

पुरद्वारेषु सर्वेषु गुल्मा: स्थावरजड़मा: । बभूवु: पत्तिबहुला: प्रभूतगजवाजिन:,नगरके सभी दरवाजोंपर छिपकर बैठनेके लिये बुर्ज बने हुए थे। ये स्थावर गुल्म कहलाते थे और घूम-फिरकर रक्षा करनेवाले जो सैनिक नियुक्त किये गये थे वे जंगम गुल्म कहे जाते थे। इनमें अधिकांश पैदल और बहुत-से हाथीसवार तथा घुड़सवार भी थे

Transliteration

puradvāreṣu sarveṣu gulmāḥ sthāvarajaḍamāḥ | babhūvuḥ pattibahulāḥ prabhūtagajavājinaḥ ||

Translation

ನಗರದ ಎಲ್ಲ ದ್ವಾರಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಗುಲ್ಮಗಳು—ಕೋಟೆಯಂತಿರುವ ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ನೆಲೆಗಳು—ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತವಾಗಿದ್ದವು; ಅವು ಸ್ಥಾವರ (ಅಚಲ)ವಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಪಾದಾತಿ ಸೈನ್ಯವಿದ್ದು, ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಗಜಾರೋಹಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅಶ್ವಾರೋಹಿಗಳೂ ಇದ್ದರು.

Word by Word

पुरद्वारेषुat the city-gates

सर्वेषुin all

गुल्माःmilitary posts / detachments (garrisons)

स्थावरजडमाःimmobile and fixed (stationary)

बभूवुःbecame / were

पत्तिबहुलाःabounding in infantry

प्रभूतगजवाजिनःhaving many elephants and horses

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

city (pura)

city gates (puradvāra)

gulma (defensive post/stockade)

infantry (patti)

elephants (gaja)

horses (vājin)

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 prudent governance: a city’s protection is organized, layered, and proportionate—fixed fortifications at key points and a well-composed force (infantry supported by elephants and cavalry). Ethically, it reflects the ruler’s dharma to safeguard subjects through preparedness rather than negligence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes the defensive arrangement at a city’s gates: stationary gate-posts (gulmas) are established everywhere, staffed mainly by foot-soldiers and reinforced with many elephant and horse units, indicating heightened vigilance and readiness.