Shloka 34

ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins

Devanagari script

स रथी बद्धनिस्त्रिंशो बभौ दीप्त इवानल: । प्रययौ स धनुर्धुन्चन्‌ खड्गी चर्मी शरासनी

Transliteration

sa rathī baddha-nistriṁśo babhau dīpta ivānalaḥ | prayayau sa dhanur-dhuñcan khaḍgī carmī śarāsanī ||

Translation

Bhishma nói: Ngồi trên chiến xa, gươm buộc ngang hông, chàng rực sáng như ngọn lửa bừng cháy. Đủ gươm và khiên, lại mang cung, chàng tiến lên, làm vang tiếng dây cung—bước đi với quyết tâm dữ dội của một chiến binh sẵn sàng hành động theo bổn phận mà mình đã chọn.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथी: charioteer / one in a chariot
• रथी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बद्ध-निस्त्रिंशः: having a bound/sheathed sword (girt with a sword)
• बद्ध-निस्त्रिंशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्धनिस्त्रिंश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बभौ: shone, appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (भाति)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दीप्तः: blazing, radiant
• दीप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अनलः: fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रययौ: went forth, advanced
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (याति) + प्र
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनुः-धुन्वन्: shaking/brandishing the bow
• धनुः-धुन्वन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: धनुस् + धुन्वत् (धू/धुन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Present participle, Parasmaipada

• खड्गी: sword-bearing
• खड्गी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्गिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चर्मी: shield-bearing (having a leather shield)
• चर्मी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्मिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरासनी: bow-bearing (armed with bow)
• शरासनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरासनिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• chariot (ratha)
• sword (nistriṁśa/khaḍga)
• shield (carma)
• bow (dhanuḥ/śarāsana)
• fire (anala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of resolute preparedness: a warrior, properly armed and composed, advances to perform his chosen duty. The ethical undertone is steadiness in one’s role (svadharma) and disciplined readiness rather than impulsive violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

A chariot-warrior mounts his chariot, fastens his sword, and advances fully armed—sword, shield, and bow—his presence compared to blazing fire, while the bow is made to resound as he moves forward.