Shloka 19

Adhyāya 195 — Arjuna’s Capability and Restraint Regarding Divyāstras

Udyoga Parva

Devanagari script

तेषां विंशतिसाहस्रा हया: शूरैरधिषछिता: । पठ्च नागसहस्राणि रथवंशाशक्ष सर्वश:,उस समय जो योद्धा पहले कभी युद्ध कर चुके थे, वे आवेशमें भरे हुए थे। उनमें बीस हजार घोड़े ऐसे थे जिनकी पीठपर शौर्यसम्पन्न वीर बैठे हुए थे। इन घुड़सवारोंके साथ पाँच हजार गजारोही तथा बहुत-से रथी भी थे

Transliteration

teṣāṁ viṁśati-sāhasrā hayāḥ śūraiḥ adhiṣṭhitāḥ | pañca nāga-sahasrāṇi ratha-vaṁśāś ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

ان میں بیس ہزار گھوڑے تھے جن پر بہادر سوار تھے؛ پانچ ہزار ہاتھی تھے؛ اور ہر سمت رتھوں کے جھنڈ بھی بہت تھے۔

Word by Word

तेषाम्of them

विंशतिtwenty

साहस्राःthousands (in number)

हयाःhorses

शूरैःby heroes/brave men

अधिष्ठिताःmounted/occupied

पञ्चfive

नागelephant

सहस्राणिthousands (i.e., five thousand elephants)

रथchariot

वंशाःlines/rows/companies

अक्षौहिण्यःarmies (akṣauhiṇīs)

सर्वशःaltogether/in every way

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

horses (hayāḥ)

elephants (nāgāḥ)

chariots (rathāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how quickly conflict becomes institutional and massive: once war is set in motion, resources and seasoned fighters gather in great numbers. Ethically, it serves as a warning about escalation—power and preparedness can intensify adharma if not restrained by wise counsel and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing the composition and scale of assembled forces: a large cavalry contingent (20,000 horses with heroic riders), a substantial elephant corps (5,000), and numerous chariot formations spread throughout, indicating a fully mobilized army.