Shloka 2

Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama

Devanagari script

शक्रस्थायं सखा चैव मन्त्री सारथिरेव च । अल्पान्तरप्रभावश्नल वासवेन रणे रणे

Transliteration

śakrasyāyaṃ sakhā caiva mantrī sārathir eva ca | alpāntara-prabhāvaś ca vāsavena raṇe raṇe ||

Translation

Nārada disse: “Este é, de fato, o amigo íntimo de Śakra — seu conselheiro e também seu cocheiro. Em cada batalha ele permanece ao lado de Vāsava; seu poder fica apenas um pouco aquém do de Indra.”

Word by Word

• शक्रस्थायम्: the one stationed with Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रस्थायम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्रस्थाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सखा: friend
• सखा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मन्त्री: minister/counsellor
• मन्त्री: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सारथिः: charioteer
• सारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• अल्पान्तरप्रभावश्नल: whose power is only slightly less (than another's)
• अल्पान्तरप्रभावश्नल: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्पान्तरप्रभावश्नल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वासवेन: by/with Vāsava (Indra)
• वासवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• रणे: in battle (again; distributive: in every battle)
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Śakra (Indra)
• Vāsava (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and political value of steadfast companionship: a ruler’s strength is amplified by a trusted ally who can serve as friend, adviser, and practical support in crisis—so close in capability that the difference in power is minimal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing a particular figure’s exceptional closeness to Indra (Śakra/Vāsava), emphasizing that this person accompanies Indra in every battle and functions simultaneously as confidant, minister, and charioteer, nearly matching Indra’s own might.