Shloka 5

Ritual Acclamation at Hastināpura and Karṇa’s Vow Concerning Arjuna (राजकीय स्तुति-प्रसङ्गः कर्णप्रतिज्ञा च)

Devanagari script

युगमीषां वरूथं च तथैव ध्वजसारथी । अश्वांस्त्रिवेणुं तल्पं च तिलशो व्यधमउछ्छरै:,और उसके युग, ईषादण्ड, वरूथ, ध्वजा, सारथि, घोड़ों, तीन वेणुदण्डवाले छत्र और तल्प (बैठनेके स्थान)-को बाणोंद्वारा तिल-तिल करके काट डाला

Transliteration

yugam īṣāṁ varūthaṁ ca tathaiva dhvaja-sārathī | aśvāṁs triveṇuṁ talpaṁ ca tilaśo vyadham ucchraiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Với những mũi tên nhanh và xuyên thấu, chàng chém nát từng chút một: ách và càng xe, khung che chắn, cờ hiệu và người đánh xe, bầy ngựa, chiếc lọng ba ống tre, và cả chỗ ngồi trên chiến xa.

Word by Word

युगम्yoke

ईषाम्shafts/poles (of the chariot)

वरूथम्protective covering/armour (of the chariot)

चand

तथाthus/likewise

एवindeed/just

ध्वजान्banners/flags

सारथीन्charioteers

अश्वान्horses

त्रिवेणुम्three-bamboo(-staffed)

तल्पम्seat/bed (resting place)

चand

तिलशःbit by bit; into tiny pieces

व्यधमत्he pierced/split

उच्छ्रैःwith arrows (lit. 'lofty/raised ones'; used for shafts)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

chariot yoke (yuga)

chariot pole (īṣā)

chariot protective frame (varūtha)

banner (dhvaja)

charioteer (sārathī)

horses (aśva)

triple-staff parasol (triveṇu-chatra)

seat (talpa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how power in battle rests on supports—equipment, symbols, and coordination (banner, charioteer, horses). Ethical reflection arises from seeing that skill can swiftly strip an opponent of these supports; therefore, martial prowess should be governed by dharma, restraint, and right purpose rather than mere domination.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior (implied by context) uses arrows to systematically destroy an opponent’s chariot-system—yoke, pole, protective frame, banner, charioteer, horses, parasol, and seat—reducing them ‘piece by piece’ and effectively disabling the enemy’s mobility and command.