Shloka 363

शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command

Devanagari script

शस्त्रावभूथपूतानां ध्रुवं वासस्त्रिविष्टपे “जिनके आचरण श्रेष्ठ हैं

Transliteration

śastrāvabhūthapūtānāṃ dhruvaṃ vāsaḥ trivīṣṭape

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Ang mga pantas na nililinis ng “avabhṛtha” ng mga sandata—yaong marangal ang asal, hindi kailanman tumatalikod sa labanan, tinutupad ang kanilang panata, at sumasamba sa pamamagitan ng mga handog na sakripisyo—tunay na nagkakamit ng paninirahan sa langit.

Word by Word

• शस्त्र: with a weapon
• शस्त्र: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अवभूथ: in the avabhṛtha (final bath/rite)
• अवभूथ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवभूथ
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पूतानाम्: of the purified (ones)
• पूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव

• वासः: dwelling, residence
• वासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रिविष्टपे: in heaven (Triviṣṭapa)
• त्रिविष्टपे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविष्टप
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Trivīṣṭapa (Svarga)
• Śastra (weapons)
• Avabhṛtha (ritual bath)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links steadfast performance of one’s dharma—especially a warrior’s refusal to retreat, truthfulness to vows, and reverence for yajña—with spiritual ‘purification’ and the assured reward of heaven. It frames righteous battle as a sacrificial act, where the ordeal of weapons functions like an avabhṛtha bath.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating the Kurukṣetra events, offers a reflective statement about the fate of exemplary men in war: those who uphold noble conduct, keep their pledges, and remain committed to sacrificial worship are said to attain svarga, their combat being portrayed as a purifying culmination akin to a ritual bath.