Shloka 53

Devanagari script

नूनं सप्ताश्वयुक्तेन रथेनोत्तमतेजसा । विमोक्ष्येडहं तदा प्राणान्‌ सुहृदः सुप्रियानिव

Transliteration

nūnaṃ saptāśvayuktena rathenottamatejasā | vimokṣye'haṃ tadā prāṇān suhṛdaḥ supriyān iva ||

Translation

ନିଶ୍ଚୟ, ସାତ ଅଶ୍ୱଯୁକ୍ତ ପରମ ତେଜସ୍ବୀ ରଥରେ ଆରୂଢ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଉତ୍ତରାୟଣ ପଥକୁ ପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତ ହେବେ, ସେତେବେଳେ ମୁଁ ମୋ ପ୍ରାଣ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରିବି—ଯେପରି ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରିୟ ସୁହୃଦଙ୍କୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ବିଦାୟ ନିଆଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• नूनम्: surely, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम्

• सप्त: seven
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त
• Form: Number (indeclinable numeral)

• अश्व: horse
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, stem; (in compound)

• युक्तेन: yoked, harnessed (with)
• युक्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular (past passive participle 'yukta')

• रथेन: by/with the chariot
• रथेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• उत्तम: excellent, supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Stem; (in compound)

• तेजसा: with splendor, with brilliance
• तेजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विमोक्ष्ये: I shall release, I shall give up
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+मुच्
• Form: Future, 1st person, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• तदा: then, at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• प्राणान्: life-breaths, life
• प्राणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुहृदः: of a friend, of a well-wisher
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular (used in sense 'of a dear friend')

• सुप्रियान्: very dear (ones)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sūrya (the Sun)
• seven-horsed chariot (saptāśva-ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames death as a conscious ‘release’ of prāṇa aligned with cosmic time: one should meet inevitable departure with composure and detachment, letting go of life as gently as one parts from beloved friends, rather than clinging in fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya speaks of a destined moment marked by the Sun’s radiant seven-horsed chariot turning to the northern course; at that auspicious time he foresees relinquishing his life-breaths, emphasizing a deliberate, orderly departure rather than a chaotic end.