Shloka 22

भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्

Departure to Behold Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

ते हया वासुदेवस्य दारुकेण प्रचोदिता:

Transliteration

te hayā vāsudevasya dārukeṇa pracoditāḥ

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଦାରୁକଙ୍କ ପ୍ରେରଣାରେ ବାସୁଦେବଙ୍କ ସେଇ ଅଶ୍ୱମାନେ ଶିଷ୍ଟ ବେଗରେ ଆଗକୁ ଧାଇଲେ; ଭରସାଯୋଗ୍ୟ ସାରଥିଙ୍କ ଯଥାଯଥ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶରେ ଶକ୍ତି ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟମୟ କର୍ମ ହୁଏ ଯେପରି।

Word by Word

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हयाः: horses
• हयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वासुदेवस्य: of Vāsudeva (Krishna)
• वासुदेवस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: वासुदेव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दारुकेण: by Dāruka (the charioteer)
• दारुकेण: Karana
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: दारुक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रचोदिताः: urged/impelled
• प्रचोदिताः: Karta
• Type: Participle
• Root: प्र-चुद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Passive, Past (PPP)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Dāruka
• horses

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even great strength (the horses) becomes ethically effective only when properly guided (by Dāruka). The verse subtly highlights disciplined agency—power directed by competent, trusted guidance rather than impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Vāsudeva’s horses are being urged forward by Dāruka, indicating the chariot’s movement and the charioteer’s active control in the unfolding scene.