Shloka 6

Karṇa–Sūrya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dāna, and the Amoghā Śakti (कर्ण–सूर्यसंवादः)

Devanagari script

पुरद्वारेषु सर्वेषु गुल्मा: स्थावरजड़मा: । बभूवु: पत्तिबहुला: प्रभूतगजवाजिन:,नगरके सभी दरवाजोंपर छिपकर बैठनेके लिये बुर्ज बने हुए थे। ये स्थावर गुल्म कहलाते थे और घूम-फिरकर रक्षा करनेवाले जो सैनिक नियुक्त किये गये थे वे जंगम गुल्म कहे जाते थे। इनमें अधिकांश पैदल और बहुत-से हाथीसवार तथा घुड़सवार भी थे

Transliteration

puradvāreṣu sarveṣu gulmāḥ sthāvarajaḍamāḥ | babhūvuḥ pattibahulāḥ prabhūtagajavājinaḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Ở mỗi cổng thành đều có các chốt phòng thủ như pháo đài (gulma), cố định và bất động, dựng lên để ẩn nấp và che chở. Chúng được bố trí chủ yếu là bộ binh, và còn có rất nhiều kỵ tượng cùng kỵ mã.”

Word by Word

पुरद्वारेषुat the city-gates

सर्वेषुin all

गुल्माःmilitary posts / detachments (garrisons)

स्थावरजडमाःimmobile and fixed (stationary)

बभूवुःbecame / were

पत्तिबहुलाःabounding in infantry

प्रभूतगजवाजिनःhaving many elephants and horses

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

city (pura)

city gates (puradvāra)

gulma (defensive post/stockade)

infantry (patti)

elephants (gaja)

horses (vājin)

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?

The verse highlights prudent governance: a city’s protection is organized, layered, and proportionate—fixed fortifications at key points and a well-composed force (infantry supported by elephants and cavalry). Ethically, it reflects the ruler’s dharma to safeguard subjects through preparedness rather than negligence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes the defensive arrangement at a city’s gates: stationary gate-posts (gulmas) are established everywhere, staffed mainly by foot-soldiers and reinforced with many elephant and horse units, indicating heightened vigilance and readiness.