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Shloka 3

उत्तरो भयविषण्णः — बृहन्नडेन धैर्योपदेशः

Uttara’s Panic and Bṛhannadā’s Stabilizing Counsel

इस समय मुझे ऐसे किसी मनुष्यका पता नहीं है, जो मेरा सारथि बन सके। मैं युद्धके लिये प्रस्थान करूँगा, अत: शीघ्र मेरे लिये किसी योग्य सारथिकी तलाश करो ।। अष्टाविंशतिरात्रं वा मासं वा नूनमन्ततः । यत्‌ तदासीन्महद्‌ युद्ध तत्र मे सारथि्हत:,पहले लगातार अट्ठाईस राततक अथवा अन्ततः एक मासतक जो वह महायुद्ध हुआ उसमें मेरा सारथि मारा गया था

uttara uvāca | idānīṃ mama tādṛśaḥ kaścid api manuṣyo na vidyate yo me sārathiḥ syāt | ahaṃ yuddhāya prasthāsyāmi, ataḥ śīghraṃ mama kṛte kaṃcid yogyam sārathim anvicchata || aṣṭāviṃśati-rātraṃ vā māsaṃ vā nūnam antataḥ | yat tad āsīn mahad yuddhaṃ tatra me sārathiḥ hataḥ ||

อุตตรากล่าวว่า “บัดนี้เราไม่รู้จักผู้ใดที่จะเป็นสารถีให้เราได้ เราจะออกไปสู่สงคราม เพราะฉะนั้นจงรีบเสาะหาสารถีที่เหมาะสมให้เรา ก่อนหน้านี้ ในมหาสงครามที่ดำเนินติดต่อกันยี่สิบแปดราตรี—หรือท้ายที่สุดครบหนึ่งเดือน—สารถีของเราถูกสังหาร ณ ที่นั้น”

अष्टाविंशतिtwenty-eight
अष्टाविंशति:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअष्टाविंशति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
रात्रम्nights (as a duration)
रात्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरात्रि
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
मासम्a month (as a duration)
मासम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमास
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
नूनम्surely, indeed
नूनम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनूनम्
अन्ततःfinally, at last
अन्ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्ततः
यत्which (that which)
यत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
आसीत्was
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormImperfect, 3, Singular
महत्great
महत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
युद्धम्battle, war
युद्धम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तत्रthere, in that (battle)
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
मेof me, my
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
सारथिःcharioteer
सारथिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसारथि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हतःkilled, slain
हतः:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

उत्तर उवाच

U
Uttara (Prince of Virāṭa)
C
charioteer (sārathi)

Educational Q&A

The passage highlights that martial leadership is not merely personal courage; it depends on competent support and proper preparation. Uttara’s urgency to find a qualified charioteer underscores the ethical responsibility to avoid reckless action in war and to rely on appropriate expertise.

Prince Uttara declares he is ready to depart for battle but lacks a charioteer. He asks that a suitable driver be found quickly, explaining that his previous charioteer was killed in an earlier prolonged and severe conflict.