Shloka 38

नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च

Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault

Devanagari script

रथिनो रथमारुहा प्रद्रुता वेगवत्तरम्‌

Transliteration

rathino rathamāruhā pradrutā vegavattaram

Translation

三阇耶说道：诸车战士登上战车之后，便以更甚的疾势奔涌向前——战阵的急迫之势驱使着他们；在那一刻，决心与仓促同样推动人们走向自己所择的职责与凶险。

Word by Word

• रथिनः: chariot-warriors
• रथिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आरुहाः: having mounted / mounted upon
• आरुहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रुह्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रद्रुताः: having run forth / rushing
• प्रद्रुताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-द्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वेगवत्तरम्: more swiftly / with greater speed
• वेगवत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariot-warriors
• chariots

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, trained warriors act decisively and swiftly once committed—suggesting the ethical tension of kshatriya-dharma: when duty is accepted, hesitation gives way to resolute action, even amid danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the chariot-fighters have mounted their chariots and are charging ahead with increased speed, indicating an escalation in the battle’s intensity and urgency.