Shloka 23

Devanagari script

ततो<न्ये बहुसाहस्रा विचित्राद्भुतवासस: । असिप्रासायुधधरा: कृष्णस्यासन्‌ पुर:सरा:

Transliteration

tato 'nye bahusāhasrā vicitrādbhuta-vāsasaḥ | asi-prāsa-āyudha-dharāḥ kṛṣṇasyāsan puraḥsarāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Rồi nhiều đạo quân khác, đến hàng ngàn, tiến lên đi trước Kṛṣṇa. Họ khoác những y phục kỳ lạ, rực rỡ muôn vẻ; trong tay, gươm, giáo và các binh khí khác sáng loáng, biểu lộ kỷ luật và trật tự võ bị khi hộ tống bậc lãnh đạo.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• बहु: many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Indeclinable/adjectival first member (in compound)

• साहस्राः: thousands (in number)
• साहस्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहस्र
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• विचित्र: variegated, diverse
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र
• Form: Adjectival first member (in compound)

• अद्भुत: wonderful, marvelous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Adjectival first member (in compound)

• वाससः: garments, clothes
• वाससः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• असि: sword
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि
• Form: First member (in compound)

• प्रास: spear, lance
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रास
• Form: First member (in compound)

• आयुध: weapon
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध
• Form: First member (in compound)

• धराः: bearing, holding
• धराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna
• कृष्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, genitive, singular

• आसन्: were
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd person, plural, Parasmaipada

• पुरःसराः: those going in front, vanguard
• पुरःसराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरःसर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kṛṣṇa
• vanguard troops (puraḥsarāḥ)
• sword (asi)
• spear (prāsa)
• weapons (āyudha)
• garments (vāsas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ethical weight of leadership in times of impending conflict: a leader is preceded by disciplined force and visible preparedness, reminding the listener that political decisions and diplomacy unfold under the shadow of organized violence and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

As events move toward confrontation, a large body of troops marches ahead of Kṛṣṇa as his vanguard. Their splendid attire and prominent weapons depict a formal military escort and the mobilized atmosphere of the Udyoga Parva.