Shloka 203

भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्

Departure to Behold Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

मेघघोषै रथवरै: प्रययुस्ते नरर्षभा: । रथपर बैठे-बैठे ही उन सबने बातचीत की

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | meghaghoṣai rathavaraiḥ prayayus te nararṣabhāḥ |

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Ang mga lalaking matitibay na gaya ng toro ay umalis, sakay ng mahuhusay na karwaheng may malalim na ugong na wari’y kulog sa ulap. Habang nakaupo sa kanilang mga karwahe, sila’y nag-usap at magalang na nagtanungan tungkol sa kalagayan ng isa’t isa at sa ginhawa ng nagdaang gabi. Pagkaraan, ang mga pinakadakilang lalaki ay nagpatuloy sa paglalakbay, sakay ng mga karwaheng umuugong na parang dagundong ng ulap.”

Word by Word

• मेघघोषैः: with cloud-thundering (i.e., thunderous) [ones]
• मेघघोषैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघघोष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रथवरैः: with excellent chariots
• रथवरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथवर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रययुः: they went forth / departed
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (प्र + या)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नरर्षभाः: bulls among men / best of men
• नरर्षभाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• excellent chariots (rathavarāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights cultured conduct (sadācāra): even powerful men maintain mutual respect, inquire after one another’s welfare, and proceed with discipline—an ethical tone consistent with Śānti Parva’s emphasis on right conduct and social harmony.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the foremost men depart from the place in splendid chariots whose sound is likened to thunderclouds; before leaving, they converse and exchange well-being inquiries about the night’s comfort.