Shloka 48

Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation

Devanagari script

धर्मराजपुरोगास्तु भीमसेनमुखा रथा: । न जहु: समरे शूरं शल्यमाहवशोभिनम्‌,तो भी धर्मराजको आगे रखकर भीमसेन आदि रथी संग्राममें शोभा पानेवाले शूरवीर शल्यको वहाँ छोड़कर पीछे न हटे

Transliteration

dharmarāja-purogās tu bhīmasena-mukhā rathāḥ | na jahuḥ samare śūraṃ śalyaṃ āhava-śobhinam ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Đặt Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) ở hàng đầu, và lấy Bhīmasena làm mũi nhọn, các chiến binh xa chiến không hề bỏ mặc Śalya—vị dũng sĩ rực sáng giữa chiến trường. Dẫu sức ép chiến cuộc nặng nề, họ vẫn không quay lưng để lại ông phía sau—kiên định trong quyết tâm và bổn phận giữa cơn hỗn loạn của giao tranh.

Word by Word

• धर्मराजपुरोगाः: having Dharmaraja in front
• धर्मराजपुरोगाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मराजपुरोग (धर्मराज + पुरोग)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• भीमसेनमुखाः: having Bhimasena as foremost
• भीमसेनमुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमसेनमुख (भीमसेन + मुख)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथाः: chariot-warriors/chariots
• रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• जहुः: abandoned/left
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (जहाति)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शूरम्: the hero
• शूरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शल्यम्: Shalya
• शल्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आहवशोभिनम्: shining in battle
• आहवशोभिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहवशोभिन् (आहव + शोभिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• धर्मराज / युधिष्ठिर (Dharmarāja / Yudhiṣṭhira)
• भीमसेन (Bhīmasena)
• शल्य (Śalya)
• रथा: (chariot-warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness in kṣatriya-dharma: under rightful leadership (Dharmarāja) and with courageous champions (Bhīma) at the fore, warriors should not abandon a formidable opponent out of fear or wavering resolve. It frames perseverance and disciplined courage as ethical qualities in the battlefield context.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava chariot-warriors, led by Yudhiṣṭhira and with Bhīma prominent among them, continued to engage the heroic Śalya in battle. They did not withdraw or leave him behind; instead they held their ground against a warrior who was resplendent in combat.