Shloka 28

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

रथान्‌ हयै: सुसम्पन्नानास्थाय च नरोत्तमा: । निर्ययुर्मुदिता: पार्था: शत्रुसंघावमर्दिन:

Transliteration

rathān hayaiḥ susampannān āsthāya ca narottamāḥ | niryayur muditāḥ pārthāḥ śatrusaṅghāvamardinaḥ ||

Translation

ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਥਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕੁਚਲਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਉਹ ਨਰ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਕੁੰਤੀਪੁੱਤਰ—ਪਾਰਥ—ਘੋੜਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਜੁਤੇ ਸੁਸਜਜਿਤ ਰਥਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਕੇ, ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਅਤੇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹ ਨਿਸ਼ਚੇ ਨਾਲ ਰਾਜ-ਨਿਵਾਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਨਿਕਲੇ।

Word by Word

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

• हयैः: with horses
• हयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सुसम्पन्नान्: well-equipped / well-provided
• सुसम्पन्नान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसम्पन्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आस्थाय: having mounted / having taken (seat)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage)

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

• नरोत्तमाः: best of men
• नरोत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरोत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निर्ययुः: went out / sallied forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-या
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मुदिताः: joyful
• मुदिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पार्थाः: the sons of Pṛthā (Pāṇḍavas)
• पार्थाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शत्रुसंघावमर्दिनः: crushers of the host of enemies
• शत्रुसंघावमर्दिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुसंघावमर्दिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas / sons of Kuntī)
• chariots (ratha)
• horses (haya)
• royal residence/palace (implied by 'went out')
• enemy hosts (śatru-saṅgha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined preparedness and collective resolve: righteous power is not mere aggression but organized strength directed toward protecting order and confronting hostile forces—an aspect of kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Pāṇḍavas, confident and pleased, mount well-equipped horse-drawn chariots and ride out from the palace, poised to face and subdue opposing forces.