Shloka 48

Devanagari script

अयुध्येतां महाबाहू चित्र लघु च सुष्ठु च । सम्पूज्यमानौ समरे योधमुख्यै: सहस्रश:,वे महाबाहु वीर समरांगणमें समस्त श्रेष्ठ योद्धाओंद्वारा हजारों बार प्रशंसित होते हुए शीघ्रतापूर्वक और सुन्दर ढंगसे विचित्र युद्ध कर रहे थे

Transliteration

ayudhyetāṃ mahābāhū citra-laghu ca suṣṭhu ca | sampūjyamānau samare yodhamukhyaiḥ sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Kedua-dua wira berlengan perkasa itu terus bertempur—memperagakan pelbagai gerak helah yang menakjubkan, dilaksanakan dengan pantas dan mahir. Dalam pertempuran itu mereka berkali-kali dipuji, lagi dan lagi, oleh ribuan pendekar terkemuka, ketika mereka menonjolkan aksi-aksi yang menggetarkan di medan laga.

Word by Word

अयुध्येताम्were fighting / should fight

महाबाहूthe two mighty-armed (heroes)

चित्रम्variegated, wondrous

लघुswift, light

चand

सुष्ठुwell, excellently

चand

सम्पूज्यमानौbeing honored/praised

समरेin battle

योधमुख्यैःby the foremost warriors

सहस्रशःa thousandfold, thousands of times

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined excellence in combat: skill (suṣṭhu), speed (laghu), and creative strategy (citra) earn recognition from peers. Ethically, it frames martial prowess as something evaluated and publicly affirmed within the warrior code, emphasizing reputation and honor in the battlefield context.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that two mighty-armed fighters are engaged in an impressive duel. Their fighting is swift, varied, and well-executed, and the leading warriors present in the battle repeatedly praise and honor them as they perform these feats.