Shloka 21

भीष्म–जामदग्न्यसंवादः (Amba-prasaṅga and Kurukṣetra Dvandva Declaration) / Bhishma–Jamadagnya Dialogue

Devanagari script

राजन! उन्होंने मेरे चारों घोड़ों तथा सारथिको भी अवरुद्ध कर दिया तो भी मैं पूर्ववत्‌ कवच धारण किये उस समरभूमिमें डटा रहा

Transliteration

rājan! te mama catvāro 'śvān sārathīṃś ca avaruddhavantaḥ; tathāpi ahaṃ pūrvavat kavacaṃ dhārayitvā tasmin samara-bhūmau dṛḍhaṃ sthitaḥ

Translation

O Hari, kahit nang hadlangan nila ang aking apat na kabayo at pati ang aking kutsero, hindi ako umurong. Gaya ng dati, suot ang aking baluti, nanatili akong matatag sa larangan—taglay ang paninindigan ng mandirigma at hindi iniiwan ang tungkulin sa gitna ng bigat ng pagsubok.

Word by Word

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• चतुरः: four
• चतुरः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सारथीन्: charioteers
• सारथीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपि: even / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अवरुद्धवन्तः: having blocked / having restrained
• अवरुद्धवन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवरुध्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्तवतुँ (past active participle)

• तथापि: even then / nevertheless
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथापि

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत्

• कवचम्: armor
• कवचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धारयन्: wearing / bearing
• धारयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• समरभूमौ: on the battlefield
• समरभूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समरभूमि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• दृढः: firm / steadfast
• दृढः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिष्ठम्: I stood / remained
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rājan (King, addressee)
• Rāma (speaker)
• four horses
• charioteers
• armor (kavaca)
• battlefield (samara-bhūmi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steadfast adherence to one’s duty (dharma) under adversity: even when one’s supports are constrained—horses and charioteers—one should not abandon resolve, preparedness, and disciplined courage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rāma addresses a king and recounts a battle moment: opponents obstruct his chariot team and charioteers, yet he remains on the battlefield as before, armored and unshaken, continuing to hold his ground.