Shloka 23

Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)

Devanagari script

ततो दुर्योधनो भूमौ स्थित्वा रथवरे स्थितम्‌

Transliteration

tato duryodhano bhūmau sthitvā rathavare sthitam | yatra mitram amitraṃ vā parīkṣante budhā janāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Rồi Duryodhana đứng trên mặt đất, hướng lời đến vị vua đang ngồi trên cỗ chiến xa tuyệt hảo—đúng vào lúc những bậc trí giả phân định và thử thách xem ai thật là bạn, ai là thù. Dưới sức ép đạo lý của chiến trường, Duryodhana xem hành động sắp tới như một phép thử quyết định về lòng trung thành và sự gắn kết đồng minh.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• स्थित्वा: having stood
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• रथवरे: on the excellent chariot
• रथवरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथवर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितम्: standing/placed (one who is on it)
• स्थितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• यत्र: where
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• मित्रम्: a friend
• मित्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अमित्रम्: an enemy
• अमित्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• परीक्षन्ते: they examine/test
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• ratha (chariot)
• battlefield (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that crises—especially war—reveal true allegiance: wise people judge whether someone acts as a genuine friend or effectively as an enemy, based on conduct rather than claims.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Duryodhana approaching and speaking to a king seated on a fine chariot, presenting the moment as a decisive test of friendship versus enmity in the unfolding battle situation.