Mahabharata 3.232.40 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 232, Shloka 40

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

पट्टिशं त्वन्वगाद्‌ राजऊछत्र रौद्र महाप्रभम्‌

Transliteration

paṭṭiśaṃ tv anvagād rājocchatra raudra mahāprabham

Translation

Disse Mārkaṇḍeya: “Então o rei avançou atrás dele, empunhando uma lança — terrível ao olhar e ardendo com grande poder.” O verso realça a perseguição resoluta do rei e a intensidade sombria e justa que muitas vezes acompanha o dever régio em momentos de conflito.

Word by Word

• पट्टिशम्: a spear/halberd (pattiśa)
• पट्टिशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्टिश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अन्वगात्: followed/went after
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-गम्
• Form: Aorist (simple past), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्छत्रम्: having a raised umbrella/royal (with umbrella held aloft)
• उच्छत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रौद्रम्: fierce/terrible
• रौद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाप्रभम्: of great splendor/mighty
• महाप्रभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्रभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• the king (rājā)
• paṭṭiśa (spear)
• royal parasol/umbrella (ucchatra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kingly ideal of steadfast resolve: when duty calls, a ruler must act decisively, even amid fearsome circumstances, carrying the symbols and instruments of sovereignty and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a moment of pursuit: the king moves forward after someone (implied by ‘after him’), armed with a spear and marked by fierce, formidable power—suggesting an imminent confrontation.