Shloka 29
Devanagari script
रथा विंशतिसाहस्रा ये तेषामनुयायिन: । हयानां दश कोट्यश्व महतां किंकिणीकिनाम्
Transliteration
rathā viṁśatisāhasrā ye teṣām anuyāyinaḥ | hayānāṁ daśa koṭy-aśva mahatāṁ kiṅkiṇīkinām ||
Translation
रथाः विंशतिसाहस्रा ये तेषामनुयायिनः । हयानां दश कोट्यश्वा महतां किंकिणीकिनाम् ॥
Word by Word
रथाःchariots
रथाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विंशति-साहस्राःtwenty-thousand (in number)
विंशति-साहस्राः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविंशति-साहस्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
येwhich/that (those who)
ये:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
अनुयायिनःfollowers
अनुयायिनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअनु-या (धातु) → अनुयायिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हयानाम्of horses
हयानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
दशten
दश:
Karta
TypeNumeral
Rootदशन्
Formtrue
कोटि-अश्वाःcrores of horses
कोटि-अश्वाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकोटि-अश्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
महताम्of great (ones)
महताम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
किंकिणीकिनाम्having (tinkling) bells
किंकिणीकिनाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootकिंकिणीक
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaC
chariots (ratha)H
horses (haya/aśva)T
tinkling bells (kiṅkiṇī)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how the momentum toward war is built not only by intent but by vast material mobilization; it invites reflection on the ethical weight of leadership decisions when immense resources and lives are drawn into conflict.
Vaiśampāyana is describing the magnitude of the forces accompanying a party—counting chariots and horses—within the Udyoga Parva’s broader account of preparations and alliances leading up to the great war.