Shloka 22

भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception

Devanagari script

देवपुत्रसमा: सर्वे शौर्ये शक्रसमा युधि । ऋचछ्या वैश्रव्ं चाति नयेन च बृहस्पतिम्‌

Transliteration

devaputrasamāḥ sarve śaurye śakrasamā yudhi | ṛcchayā vaiśravaṇaṃ cāti nītena ca bṛhaspatim prajānātha |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—“ରାଜନ୍! ସେମାନେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଦେବପୁତ୍ରସମ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ; ଯୁଦ୍ଧେ ଶୌର୍ୟରେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରତୁଲ୍ୟ; ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ୟରେ କୁବେରସମ; ନୀତିଜ୍ଞତାରେ ବୃହସ୍ପତିଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରୁଥିଲେ। ତଥାପି ଭାଗ୍ୟବଳେ ଅନେକ ମହାରଥୀ ରଥହୀନ ହେଲେ, ଏବଂ କବଚ–କୁଣ୍ଡଳ–ଶିରୋଭୂଷଣରେ ବିଭୂଷିତ, ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ନିଷ୍କ ଓ ବାହୁବନ୍ଧ ଧାରଣ କରିଥିବା ସେଇ ବୀରମାନେ ସାଧାରଣ ଭ୍ରାନ୍ତ ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଏଠି-ସେଠି ଦୌଡ଼ୁଥିବା ଦେଖାଗଲେ।”

Word by Word

• देवपुत्रसमाḥ: equal to the sons of gods (like divine princes)
• देवपुत्रसमाḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवपुत्र-सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शौर्ये: in valor
• शौर्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौर्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शक्रसमाḥ: equal to Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रसमाḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र-सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• ऋच्छ्या: by prosperity/wealth (riches)
• ऋच्छ्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्छ्या
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वैश्रवणम्: Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
• वैश्रवणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: वैश्रवण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अति: exceedingly / beyond
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति

• नयेन: by policy/wisdom
• नयेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• बृहस्पतिम्: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: बृहस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (prajānātha)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
• Bṛhaspati
• ratha (chariot)
• kavaca (armor)
• kuṇḍala (earrings)
• śirastrāṇa/pagṛī (headgear/turban)
• suvarṇa-pādaka (golden neck-ornament/medallion)
• bājūbandha (armlet)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the most splendid and capable—godlike in beauty, wealth, and counsel—can be reduced by the reversals of war and fate. The verse underscores impermanence and the humbling power of circumstance, warning rulers not to rely on pride in power or status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that many renowned chariot-warriors, though richly adorned and famed for valor and wisdom, have lost their chariots amid the chaos of battle and are seen running about in confusion like ordinary men.