Shloka 21

Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ

Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host

Devanagari script

ते रथान्‌ रथिन: श्रेष्ठा हयांश्ष हयकोविदा: । सज्जयन्ि सम नागांश्व॒ नागशिक्षास्वनुछिता:

Transliteration

te rathān rathinaḥ śreṣṭhā hayāṁś ca hayakovidāḥ | sajjayan samānāgāṁś ca nāgaśikṣāsv anuśikṣitāḥ ||

Translation

ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ରଥୀମାନେ ନିଜ ରଥଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ସଜ୍ଜ କରିବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲେ; ଅଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାରେ ନିପୁଣ ଯୋଦ୍ଧାମାନେ ଘୋଡ଼ାମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କଲେ; ଗଜଶିକ୍ଷାରେ ପ୍ରଶିକ୍ଷିତ ଲୋକେ ହାତୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେହିପରି ସୁସଜ୍ଜିତ କଲେ।

Word by Word

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

• रथान्: chariots
• रथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रथिनः: chariot-warriors
• रथिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• श्रेष्ठाः: excellent, foremost
• श्रेष्ठाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हयकोविदाः: skilled in horses (horse-handling)
• हयकोविदाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हय-कोविद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सज्जयन्ति: they prepare/equip
• Type: Verb
• Root: सज्ज्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सम्: together; completely (as preverb)
• Type: Indeclinable (Preverb)
• Root: सम्

• नागान्: elephants
• नागान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नागशिक्षासु: in elephant-training (arts)
• नागशिक्षासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग-शिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• अनुचिताः: trained, well-instructed
• अनुचिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुचित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• ratha (chariot)
• rathin (chariot-warrior)
• haya (horse)
• nāga (war-elephant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Competence and discipline in one’s assigned role are part of dharma: the verse highlights orderly preparation where trained specialists perform their duties without confusion, reflecting responsible conduct even amid impending war.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the conflict approaches in the Udyoga Parva, the forces are being readied: charioteers and chariot-warriors prepare chariots, horse-experts prepare horses, and elephant-trained men equip the war-elephants.