Shloka 5

Koṭikāśya’s Inquiry to the Radiant Woman near the Kadamba (कोटिकाश्यप्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

उच्चैराकाशमार्गेण ह्ृता:स्मस्तै: सुदुःखिता: । अथ न: सैनिका: केचिदमात्याश्ष महारथा:

Transliteration

uccair ākāśa-mārgeṇa hṛtāḥ sma tais suduḥkhitāḥ | atha naḥ sainikāḥ kecid amātyāś ca mahārathāḥ ||

Translation

“Kami’y dinala nila sa mataas na landas ng langit at ibinagsak sa matinding pagdurusa. At ngayon, ang ilan sa aming mga kawal, kasama ang mga ministro at mga dakilang mandirigmang karwahe, ay (nabihag/nalupig) din.”

Word by Word

उच्चैःaloft, on high

आकाशमार्गेणby the path of the sky (through the air)

हृताःcarried off, taken away

स्मindeed (particle)

तैःby them

सुदुःखिताःvery distressed, greatly afflicted

अथthen, now

नःof us, our

सैनिकाःsoldiers

केचित्some

अमात्याःministers, counselors

चand

महारथाःgreat chariot-warriors

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

soldiers (Kaurava forces)

ministers/counselors

mahārathas (great warriors)

ākāśa (sky)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the vulnerability of worldly power: even kings and elite warriors can be suddenly overpowered, leading to humiliation and suffering. It implicitly warns that arrogance and hostility invite consequences, and that strength without restraint does not guarantee security.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana reports that he and his party were seized and carried through the sky by opponents (unnamed here), causing great distress; he adds that some of his troops, ministers, and great warriors have also been taken or subdued, emphasizing the scale of the setback.