Shloka 41

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ९६: सौभद्रस्य आक्रमणम्, अलम्बुसस्य प्रतिविधानम्

Abhimanyu’s assault; Alambusa’s counter-engagement

Devanagari script

रथिनो रथिभश्रि: सार्ध कुलपुत्रास्तनुत्यज: । परां शक्ति समास्थाय चक्कु: कर्माण्यभीतवत्‌

Transliteration

rathino rathibhaśriḥ sārdhaṃ kulaputrās tanutyajāḥ | parāṃ śaktiṃ samāsthāya cakruḥ karmāṇy abhītavat ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Các dũng sĩ chiến xa, rực rỡ hào quang võ nghiệp, cùng những thiếu niên dòng dõi cao quý sẵn sàng hiến thân, đã đứng vững trên quyết tâm tối thượng và thi hành bổn phận không hề run sợ.

Word by Word

रथिनःchariot-warriors

रथिभश्रियःthose whose splendor is (among) chariot-fighters / illustrious chariot-warriors

सार्धम्together (with)

कुलपुत्राःsons of noble families

तनुत्यजाःbody-surrenderers (ready to give up their bodies)

पराम्supreme, highest

शक्तिम्power; energy; might

समास्थायhaving resorted to; having taken up

चक्रुःthey did; they performed

कर्माणिdeeds; actions

अभीतवत्fearlessly; like one unafraid

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

rathinaḥ (chariot-warriors)

kulaputrāḥ (noble-born youths)

ratha (chariot, implied)

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?

That steadfastness in one’s duty (karma) requires inner strength and fearlessness; true valor is disciplined resolve—acting without panic even when life may be sacrificed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the warriors on the battlefield: chariot-fighters and noble youths, prepared to give up their lives, take up supreme resolve and proceed to perform their martial tasks without fear.