Shloka 40

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

आस्थाय रुचिरं जिष्णो रथं सारथिना मया । कतमं यास्यसे5नीकमुक्तो यास्याम्यहं त्वया

Transliteration

āsthāya ruciraṃ jiṣṇo rathaṃ sārathinā mayā | katamaṃ yāsyase 'nīkam ukto yāsyāmy ahaṃ tvayā ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ‘ഹേ ജിഷ്ണു! ഞാൻ സാരഥിയായിരിക്കെ ഈ മനോഹരമായ രഥത്തിൽ കയറി, സൈന്യത്തിലെ ഏത് വിഭാഗത്തേക്കാണ് നീ പോകാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നത്? നീ ആജ്ഞാപിക്കുന്നിടത്തേക്കു ഞാൻ നിനക്കൊപ്പം പോകും.’

Word by Word

• आस्थाय: having mounted / having taken (seat)
• आस्थाय: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• रुचिरम्: beautiful
• रुचिरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जिष्णो: O Jishnu (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• सारथिना: with the charioteer
• सारथिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मया: by me / with me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

• कतमम्: which (one) / to which
• कतमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यास्यसे: will you go
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, Second, Singular

• अनीकम्: army-division / battle-front
• अनीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उक्तः: having been told / when told
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, कर्मणि (P.P.P.)

• यास्यामि: I will go
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, First, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• त्वया: with you / by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna (Jiṣṇu)
• Uttara (Virāṭa-kumāra)
• chariot
• army division (anīka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined service aligned with righteous purpose: the subordinate (Uttara) offers prompt cooperation and readiness to follow the warrior’s command, reflecting the ethic of duty and coordinated action in a just battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

After recognizing Arjuna’s renewed resolve to fight, Uttara—now acting as charioteer—asks which Kaurava troop-division Arjuna wishes to approach, assuring him that he will drive wherever Arjuna orders.