Shloka 39

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow

Devanagari script

क्षत्रधर्म समास्थाय व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रम: । निवर्तयामास रथं शाल्वं प्रति महारथ:,महारथी भीष्मने क्षत्रिय-धर्मका आश्रय ले भय और घबराहट छोड़कर शाल्वकी ओर अपना रथ लौटाया

Transliteration

kṣatradharmaṃ samāsthāya vyapetabhayasambhramaḥ | nivartayāmāsa rathaṃ śālvaṃ prati mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Nương theo đạo của kṣatriya, không còn sợ hãi hay bối rối, vị đại xa chiến đã quay cỗ xe trở lại hướng về Śālva—chọn bổn phận kiên định thay cho do dự trước chiến trận.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रधर्मम्: the duty of a kshatriya (warrior-duty)
• क्षत्रधर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समास्थाय: having resorted to / having taken up
• समास्थाय: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रमः: one whose fear and agitation had departed
• व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यपेतभयसम्भ्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निवर्तयामास: turned back / caused to turn back
• निवर्तयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (causative: निवर्तय-)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शाल्वम्: Shalva (proper name)
• शाल्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards / against
• प्रति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• महारथः: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śālva
• ratha (chariot)
• mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when duty demands action, a warrior should act with steadiness—dispelling fear and confusion—and meet the challenge directly rather than retreating into hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the great chariot-warrior, regaining composure and grounding himself in the warrior’s duty, turns his chariot back toward Śālva to confront him.