Shloka 6

कथं चोत्पादित: खड्ग: कस्मै चार्थाय केन च । पूर्वाचार्य च खड्गस्य प्रब्रूहि प्रपितामह,पितामह! खड्गकी उत्पत्ति कैसे और किस प्रयोजनके लिये हुई? किसने इसे उत्पन्न किया? खड्गयुद्धका प्रथम आचार्य कौन था? यह सब मुझे बताइये

kathaṃ cotpāditaḥ khaḍgaḥ kasmai cārthāya kena ca | pūrvācāryaś ca khaḍgasya prabrūhi prapitāmaha, pitāmaha ||

ప్రపితామహా! ఖడ్గం ఎలా ఉద్భవించింది, ఎవరు ఏ ప్రయోజనార్థం దానిని సృష్టించారు? అలాగే ఖడ్గవిద్యకు తొలి ఆచార్యుడు ఎవరు? ఇవన్నీ నాకు వివరించండి.

कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
उत्पादितःproduced/created
उत्पादितः:
TypeVerb
Rootउत्पादित
FormPassive (past participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
खड्गःthe sword
खड्गः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootखड्ग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कस्मैfor whom / for what (purpose)
कस्मै:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Dative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अर्थायfor the purpose
अर्थाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
केनby whom / by what means
केन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
पूर्वाचार्यःthe first/earliest teacher
पूर्वाचार्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपूर्वाचार्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
खड्गस्यof the sword
खड्गस्य:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootखड्ग
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
प्रब्रूहिtell (me)
प्रब्रूहि:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormLot (imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
प्रपितामहO great-grandfather
प्रपितामह:
Sambodhana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रपितामह
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
पितामहO grandfather
पितामह:
Sambodhana
TypeNoun
Rootपितामह
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

नकुल उवाच

N
Nakula
P
Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma)
K
khaḍga (sword)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames weapons—especially the sword—within dharma: their legitimacy depends on origin, purpose, and disciplined transmission through a recognized teacher (ācārya). It implies that martial power must be grounded in right intent and proper instruction, not mere violence.

In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Nakula respectfully asks the venerable Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma) to explain the sword’s origin, its intended purpose, who created it, and who first taught its use—seeking authoritative tradition and ethical context for warfare.