Shloka 39

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow

Devanagari script

क्षत्रधर्म समास्थाय व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रम: । निवर्तयामास रथं शाल्वं प्रति महारथ:,महारथी भीष्मने क्षत्रिय-धर्मका आश्रय ले भय और घबराहट छोड़कर शाल्वकी ओर अपना रथ लौटाया

Transliteration

kṣatradharmaṃ samāsthāya vyapetabhayasambhramaḥ | nivartayāmāsa rathaṃ śālvaṃ prati mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

క్షత్రధర్మాన్ని ఆశ్రయించి, భయ-సంభ్రమాలను విడిచి, ఆ మహారథి భీష్ముడు తన రథాన్ని శాల్వుని వైపు తిప్పెను—సంకోచం కాక ధర్మకర్తవ్యాన్నే ఎంచుకొని.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रधर्मम्: the duty of a kshatriya (warrior-duty)
• क्षत्रधर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समास्थाय: having resorted to / having taken up
• समास्थाय: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रमः: one whose fear and agitation had departed
• व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निवर्तयामास: turned back / caused to turn back
• निवर्तयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (causative: निवर्तय-)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शाल्वम्: Shalva (proper name)
• शाल्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards / against
• प्रति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śālva
• ratha (chariot)
• mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when duty demands action, a warrior should act with steadiness—dispelling fear and confusion—and meet the challenge directly rather than retreating into hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the great chariot-warrior, regaining composure and grounding himself in the warrior’s duty, turns his chariot back toward Śālva to confront him.