Shloka 303

दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat

Devanagari script

उपविश्य रथोपस्थे सूतं याहीत्यचोदयत्‌ । उस प्रहारसे अत्यन्त पीड़ित हो धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर रथके पिछले भागमें बैठ गये और सारथिको आदेश देते हुए बोले--“यहाँसे अन्यत्र रथ ले चलो'

Transliteration

upaviśya rathopasthe sūtaṃ yāhītyacodayat |

Translation

Санджая сказал: Сражённый и измученный той раной, Дхармараджа Юдхиштхира сел на заднюю часть сиденья колесницы и, понукая возничего, сказал: «Увези колесницу отсюда в другое место».

Word by Word

• उपविश्य: having sat down
• उपविश्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), —, —, —

• रथोपस्थे: on the chariot-seat/platform
• रथोपस्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + उपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सूतम्: the charioteer
• सूतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• याहि: go / drive
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• अचोदयत्: he urged/commanded
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira
• sūta (charioteer)
• ratha (chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a righteous leader may need to withdraw momentarily when overwhelmed; dharma in war includes prudence, self-preservation for continued responsibility, and clear command in crisis rather than reckless persistence.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being severely hurt by an enemy’s strike, Yudhiṣṭhira sits at the back of his chariot and orders his charioteer to drive away to another place, indicating a brief retreat or repositioning amid the battle.