Shloka 63

Devanagari script

रथयूथपयो: पक्षौ कुरुपाण्डववीरयो: । दृष्टवा प्रजापतिं देवा: स्वयम्भुवमचोदयन्‌

Transliteration

rathayūthapayoḥ pakṣau kurupāṇḍavavīrayoḥ | dṛṣṭvā prajāpatiṃ devāḥ svayambhuvam acodayan |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Karṇa dan Arjuna, ketua terunggul pasukan kereta perang, berdiri sebagai dua sayap yang saling berhadapan bagi para wira Kuru dan Pāṇḍava. Melihat dua pihak tersusun demikian, para dewa mendekati Prajāpati Svayambhū (Brahmā) dan mendesaknya bersabda—memohon pertimbangan kosmik atas pertikaian yang seakan menimbang sama antara keperkasaan dan dharma.

Word by Word

• रथयूथपयोः: of the two leaders of the chariot-troops
• रथयूथपयोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथयूथप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• पक्षौ: two sides/parties
• पक्षौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• कुरुपाण्डववीरयोः: of the two heroes (Kuru and Pandava)
• कुरुपाण्डववीरयोः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुपाण्डववीर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• प्रजापतिम्: Prajapati (the Lord of creatures)
• प्रजापतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वयम्भुवम्: Svayambhu (the self-born, Brahma)
• स्वयम्भुवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अचोदयन्: they urged/impelled (questioned/pressed)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Arjuna
• Kuru (Kaurava side)
• Pāṇḍava (Pāṇḍava side)
• Devāḥ (the gods)
• Prajāpati Svayambhū (Brahmā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the Karṇa–Arjuna confrontation not merely as personal rivalry but as a dharmic and cosmic problem: when two mighty champions embody opposing claims and loyalties, even the gods seek guidance from the creator (Prajāpati) to understand how order (dharma) will be upheld amid destructive war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Karṇa and Arjuna as the principal chariot-leaders representing the two armies’ opposing ‘wings.’ Observing this decisive opposition, the gods approach Brahmā (Svayambhū Prajāpati) and prompt him—introducing a divine consultation that comments on the significance of the impending clash.