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Shloka 28

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 130: Kuntī’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Daṇḍanīti

ततो रथेन शुभ्रेण महता किडुकिणीकिना । हेमजालविचित्रेण लघुना मेघनादिना

tato rathena śubhreṇa mahatā kiḍukiṇīkinā | hemajālavicitreṇa laghunā meghanādinā ||

பின்னர் ஒரு மிகப் பிரகாசமான, பெரும் தேரு தோன்றியது—பல சிறு மணிகளின் ஒலியால் ஒலித்தது; பொன் வலைப்பணியின் நுண்கலை அலங்காரத்தால் வியத்தகு அழகு பெற்றது; விரைவாகச் செல்லும் அது நகரும் போது மேக இடியென ஆழ்ந்த முழக்கம் எழுப்பியது।

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
रथेनby/with a chariot
रथेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
शुभ्रेणbright, splendid
शुभ्रेण:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootशुभ्र
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
महताgreat, huge
महता:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
किडुकिणीकिनाhaving tinkling (bells), making a jingling sound
किडुकिणीकिना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootकिडुकिणीकिन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
हेमजालविचित्रेणvariegated/ornamented with a net of gold
हेमजालविचित्रेण:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootहेमजालविचित्र
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
लघुनाlight, swift
लघुना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootलघु
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
मेघनादिनाthundering like a cloud
मेघनादिना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमेघनादिन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular

धृतराष्ट उवाच

D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
R
ratha (chariot)
H
hemajāla (gold lattice/mesh ornamentation)
K
kiḍukiṇikā (small bells)
M
megha (cloud, as simile for sound)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how external grandeur and meticulous readiness can accompany—and even accelerate—grave political choices. In the Udyoga context, the splendid chariot becomes a symbol of organized power moving toward war, reminding readers that ethical responsibility must guide capability and preparation.

Dhṛtarāṣṭra narrates the appearance of a magnificent, swift chariot, richly ornamented with gold latticework and many small bells, whose movement produces a thundercloud-like roar—signaling the arrival of an important royal conveyance and the intensifying preparations around the impending conflict.