Shloka 36

गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

एष ते परमो धर्म: सृष्टो धात्रा महात्मना | तं॑ कुरुष्व यथातथ्यं राजा भव महारथ

Transliteration

eṣa te paramo dharmaḥ sṛṣṭo dhātrā mahātmanā | taṁ kuruṣva yathātathyaṁ rājā bhava mahāratha ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“这是伟大的造物主为你所立的至上之法。故当依其真实精神而奉行。噢，伟大的战车勇士——当作真正的王者，显出配得王位的勇武与行止。”

Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: for you / to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• परमः: supreme, highest
• परमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: duty, dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सृष्टः: created, ordained
• सृष्टः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज्
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धात्रा: by the Creator (Dhatṛ)
• धात्रा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महात्मना: by the great-souled (one)
• महात्मना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तम्: that (dharma)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुरुष्व: do, perform (you)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Second, Singular, Ātmanepada

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• तथ्यम्: truly, in the proper/real manner
• तथ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भव: be (you become)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महारथ: O great chariot-warrior
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhātṛ (Brahmā/Creator)
• Mahāratha (addressed warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse urges adherence to one’s highest dharma as divinely ordained—especially the ruler’s duty to embody true kingship through righteous action, courage, and proper conduct rather than mere title.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya, narrating events to Dhritarashtra, frames the addressed warrior’s role in the war as a matter of ordained duty: he must act according to true dharma and demonstrate kingly valor and responsibility in the unfolding conflict.