Mahabharata · 7.60.11–12
॥
Devanāgarī
तत्र गत्वा हृषीकेशः कल्पयाम् आस सूतवत् ॥
रथं रथवरस्याजौ वानरर्षभलक्षणम् ॥
स मेघसमनिर्घोषस् तप्तकाञ्चनसप्रभः ॥
बभौ रथवरः कॢप्तः शिशुर् दिवसकृद् यथा ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tatra gatvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ kalpayām āsa sūtavat ||
rathaṃ rathavarasyājau vānararṣabhalakṣaṇam ||
sa meghasamanirghoṣas taptakāñcanasaprabhaḥ ||
babhau rathavaraḥ kḷptaḥ śiśur divasakṛd yathā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तत्र गत्वा हृषीकेशःtatra gatvā hṛṣīkeśaḥhaving gone there, Hrishikesha; having gone there, Hrishikesha
कल्पयाम् आस सूतवत्kalpayām āsa sūtavatprepared, like a charioteer; prepared, like a charioteer
रथम् रथवरस्य आजौratham rathavarasya ājauthe chariot of the best charioteer in battle; the chariot of the foremost charioteer
वानरर्षभलक्षणम्vānararṣabhalakṣaṇambearing the emblem of the monkey-bull [Hanuman]; bearing the emblem of the monkey-bull
सः मेघसमनिर्घोषःsaḥ meghasamanirghoṣaḥthat one, resounding like a cloud; that one, like the roar of a cloud
तप्तकाञ्चनसप्रभःtaptakāñcanasaprabhaḥwith the brilliance of heated gold; with the radiance of molten gold
बभौ रथवरः कॢप्तःbabhau rathavaraḥ kḷptaḥthe finest chariot, prepared, shone; the finest chariot, prepared, shone
शिशुः दिवसकृत् यथाśiśuḥ divasakṛt yathālike a young sun [the day-maker]; like a young sun
Translation
Having gone there, Hrishikesha, like a charioteer, prepared the chariot of the best charioteer in battle — bearing the emblem of the monkey-bull. That finest chariot, resounding like a cloud, with the brilliance of heated gold, shone forth prepared, like a young sun.
Version
2c3d6933a9c6 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The Lord serves His friend in the office of charioteer: "kalpayām āsa sūtavat", "He prepared it, like a [mere] charioteer". This self-effacement is telling: the Lord of the worlds readies the chariot of a devotee like a servant. The banner bearing the monkey-bull (Hanuman, the image of perfect devotion to Rama) crowns the chariot — a sign that the warrior's path is overshadowed by bhakti. The verse teaches that God does not disdain to serve His own: out of love He takes on the labor of a charioteer; and the Lord's greatness shines not in demanding worship but in the readiness to serve a devotee like a simple servant.