Shloka 43

शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मलोकपरा भूत्वा प्रार्थयन्तो जयं युधि

Transliteration

brahmalokaparā bhūtvā prārthayanto jayaṃ yudhi

Translation

三阇耶说道：他们以梵天界（Brahmaloka）为至高归趣，定心其上，于战阵中祈求胜利。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मलोकपरा: having Brahmaloka as the highest goal
• ब्रह्मलोकपरा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मलोकपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• प्रार्थयन्तः: praying for / seeking
• प्रार्थयन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रार्थय्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जयम्: victory
• जयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Brahmaloka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse juxtaposes worldly action and transcendent aim: even amid violent conflict, the mind can be directed toward a higher spiritual destination (Brahmaloka). It highlights the ethical tension between seeking victory and maintaining an elevated inner orientation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes warriors (implied by context) preparing for or engaged in battle: they pray for success (jaya) in the fight, while their aspiration is framed as reaching Brahmaloka, suggesting a religious or otherworldly motivation alongside martial intent.