Shloka 1

शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament

Devanagari script

/ नील (0) +#अस+- एकाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: भिन्न-भिन्न देशके योद्धाओंके स्वभाव

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kiṁśīlāḥ kiṁsamācārāḥ kathaṁrūpāś ca Bhārata | kiṁsannāhāḥ kathaṁśastrā janāḥ syuḥ saṅgare kṣamāḥ ||

Translation

由提湿陀罗曰：“噢，婆罗多啊，何等性情、何等行止、何等形貌，方可称为真正堪任战场之武士？又当具何等甲胄，执何等兵刃，方能善战？”

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• किंशीलाः: of what disposition/nature?
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंशील
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• किंसमाचाराः: of what conduct/behavior?
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंसमाचार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कथंरूपाः: of what appearance/form?
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथंरूप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भारत: O Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• किंसन्नाहाः: with what armor/equipment?
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंसन्नाह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कथंशस्त्राः: with what weapons?
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथंशस्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• स्युः: would be/should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• संगरे: in battle
• संगरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• क्षमाः: fit/capable/competent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhārata (address)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames warfare as a domain governed by discernible standards of character and discipline: fitness for battle is not merely physical strength but includes temperament, ethical conduct, proper preparedness, and appropriate armament—an inquiry aligned with kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira asks the elder authority (addressed as ‘Bhārata’) to describe the traits, behavior, appearance, and equipment that characterize warriors who are truly competent on the battlefield, setting up a detailed exposition on martial types and qualities.