Shloka 23

Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)

Devanagari script

ततो दुर्योधनो भूमौ स्थित्वा रथवरे स्थितम्‌

Transliteration

tato duryodhano bhūmau sthitvā rathavare sthitam | yatra mitram amitraṃ vā parīkṣante budhā janāḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：于是，杜律约陀那立于地上，向那位端坐于上等战车之上的国王开口——正当智者辨别并试验一人究竟是挚友还是仇敌之时。在战场的法义重压之下，杜律约陀那将即将到来的举动视为忠诚与归附的决定性考验。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• स्थित्वा: having stood
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• रथवरे: on the excellent chariot
• रथवरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथवर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितम्: standing/placed (one who is on it)
• स्थितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• यत्र: where
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• मित्रम्: a friend
• मित्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अमित्रम्: an enemy
• अमित्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• परीक्षन्ते: they examine/test
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• ratha (chariot)
• battlefield (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that crises—especially war—reveal true allegiance: wise people judge whether someone acts as a genuine friend or effectively as an enemy, based on conduct rather than claims.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Duryodhana approaching and speaking to a king seated on a fine chariot, presenting the moment as a decisive test of friendship versus enmity in the unfolding battle situation.