Shloka 7

Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)

Devanagari script

अचलो वृषकश्चैव कर्णश्न राथिनां वर: । तथा शल्यश्न बलवान्‌ बाह्विकश्चन महाबल:

Transliteration

acalo vṛṣakaś caiva karṇaś ca rathināṁ varaḥ | tathā śalyaś ca balavān bāhlīkaś ca mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

अचलो वृषकश्चैव कर्णश्च रथिनां वरः । तथा शल्यश्च बलवान् बाह्लीकश्च महाबलः ॥

Word by Word

• अचलः: Achala (a warrior named Achala)
• अचलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृषकः: Vṛṣaka (a warrior named Vṛṣaka)
• वृषकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best/excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• शल्यः: Shalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलवान्: strong/mighty
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बाह्विकः: Bāhvika (a warrior named Bāhvika)
• बाह्विकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्विक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• महाबलः: very strong/mighty
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Acala
• Vṛṣaka
• Karṇa
• Śalya
• Bāhlīka
• rathin (chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how political assemblies and decisions are often framed by the presence of celebrated military power; ethical judgment (dharma in counsel) can be pressured or emboldened when great warriors stand behind a cause.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana enumerates prominent chariot-warriors present/recognized in the context, naming Acala, Vṛṣaka, Karṇa, Śalya, and Bāhlīka, emphasizing the formidable strength aligned with the Kuru court.