Shloka 2

उत्तरो भयविषण्णः — बृहन्नडेन धैर्योपदेशः

Uttara’s Panic and Bṛhannadā’s Stabilizing Counsel

Devanagari script

त॑ त्वहं नागवच्छामि यो मे यन्ता भवेन्नर: । पश्यध्वं सारथिं क्षिप्रं मम युक्त प्रयास्यत:

Transliteration

taṁ tv ahaṁ nāgavac chāmi yo me yantā bhaven naraḥ | paśyadhvaṁ sārathiṁ kṣipraṁ mama yuktaḥ prayāsyataḥ ||

Translation

Uttara nói: “Ta không muốn đi như một con vật bất lực nếu không có người làm đánh xe cho ta. Hãy mau tìm cho ta một người điều khiển chiến xa; chỉ khi được trang bị đầy đủ ta mới xuất phát.”

Word by Word

• तत्: that (one/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्व्: you
• त्व्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वम्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

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

• अगवत्: like a mountain (as if immovable)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अगवत्

• छामि: I endure / I remain / I tolerate
• Type: Verb
• Root: छा
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मे: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• यन्ता: driver, charioteer
• यन्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: should be / might be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नरः: man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पश्यध्वम्: see! / look for!
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 2nd, Plural, Atmanepada

• सारथिम्: charioteer
• सारथिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र

• मम: my / of me
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• युक्तः: yoked, harnessed, ready
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Participle
• Root: युज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• प्रयास्यतः: I shall set out / I will depart
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या
• Form: Periphrastic future (Lut), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

उत्तर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Uttara
• charioteer (sārathi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a prince should not rush into a dangerous undertaking without proper support and competence. The verse highlights prudence: readiness, skilled assistance, and responsible preparation before action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Prince Uttara, preparing to go out, declares he will not proceed without a capable charioteer. He orders those around him to quickly find a driver so that he may depart only when properly equipped.