Mahabharata · 1.216.15–16
॥
Devanāgarī
स तं नानापताकाभिः शोभितं रथम् उत्तमम् ॥
प्रदक्षिणम् उपावृत्य दैवतेभ्यः प्रणम्य च ॥
संनद्धः कवची खड्गी बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान् ॥
आरुरोह रथं पार्थो विमानं सुकृती यथा ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sa taṃ nānāpatākābhiḥ śobhitaṃ ratham uttamam ||
pradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya daivatebhyaḥ praṇamya ca ||
saṃnaddhaḥ kavacī khaḍgī baddhagodhāṅgulitravān ||
āruroha rathaṃ pārtho vimānaṃ sukṛtī yathā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सः तं नानापताकाभिः शोभितं रथम् उत्तमम्saḥ taṃ nānāpatākābhiḥ śobhitaṃ ratham uttamamhe, that finest chariot, adorned with various banners,
प्रदक्षिणम् उपावृत्य दैवतेभ्यः प्रणम्य चpradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya daivatebhyaḥ praṇamya cahaving circled it to the right and bowed to the deities,
संनद्धः कवची खड्गी बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्saṃnaddhaḥ kavacī khaḍgī baddhagodhāṅgulitravānarmed, in armor, with a sword, with finger-guards and armguard fastened on,
आरुरोह रथं पार्थः विमानं सुकृती यथाāruroha rathaṃ pārthaḥ vimānaṃ sukṛtī yathāPartha mounted the chariot, as a righteous man mounts a heavenly car [vimana];
सsaoriginal form "sa", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पार्थोpārthooriginal form "pārtho", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
He, having circled that finest chariot, adorned with various banners, to the right and bowed to the deities, armed, in armor, with a sword, with finger-guards and armguard fastened on, Partha mounted the chariot, as a righteous man mounts a heavenly car.
Version
3e999f4b2670 · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:11:48 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the hero, even before his feat, honors the gods with reverence. It is significant that Arjuna circles the chariot to the right and bows to the deities: the devout begin their undertaking with reverence. Significant too is the comparison to a righteous man ascending a vimana: the wondrous chariot is like a thing of heaven. A worthy enterprise is consecrated by worship. Thus the scripture reveals Arjuna's reverence; and having honored the gods, he mounts the chariot.