Shloka 2

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

निपेतुस्तुरगास्तस्य रथयुक्ता महाजवाः।समे पुष्पचिते देशे राजमार्गे यदृच्छया।।।।

Transliteration

nipētus turagās tasya rathayuktā mahājavāḥ | samē puṣpacitē dēśē rājamārgē yadṛcchayā ||

Translation

Kuda-kudanya, walau terpasang pada kereta dan sangat laju, tetap tersadung dengan sendirinya di jalan diraja yang rata, bertabur bunga—suatu alamat buruk dalam perarakan.

Word by Word

• निपेतुः: fell down / stumbled
• निपेतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तुरगाः: horses
• तुरगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st case), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th case), एकवचन (Singular)

• रथयुक्ताः: yoked to the chariot
• रथयुक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय; √युज् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रथेन युक्ताः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle)

• महाजवाः: very swift
• महाजवाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् जवः येषाम्/महाजवाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• समे: on level (ground)
• समे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative, 7th case), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुष्पचिते: strewn with flowers
• पुष्पचिते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + चित (कृदन्त, क्त; √चि धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुष्पैः चितः), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• देशे: in a place
• देशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th case), एकवचन (Singular)

• राजमार्गे: on the royal road
• राजमार्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राज्ञः मार्गः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• यदृच्छया: by chance / accidentally
• यदृच्छया: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), तृतीया-रूपेण प्रचलितम् (instrumental-form used adverbially)

Context

While watching all this, his eyes brimmed with tears. His forehead ached. Yet he was too deluded to beat a retreat.

Characters & Entities

• Khara (implied owner of chariot)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes attentiveness to warning signs and consequences; ignoring clear portents often reflects adharma-driven arrogance and poor judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

As Khara’s forces move out, unnatural mishaps occur on an otherwise favorable road, signaling impending calamity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (viveka) is implicitly recommended—though not yet practiced by the antagonists.