Shloka 25

Aśvatthāman’s Admonition to Karṇa on Boasting, Varṇa-Duties, and the Threat of Arjuna

Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 45

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो विमुच्य बाहुभ्यां वलयानि स वीर्यवान्‌ चित्र काञ्चनसंनाहे प्रत्यमुज्चत्‌ तदा तले,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर पराक्रमी अर्जुनने हाथोंसे कड़े और चूड़ियाँ उतार दीं और हथेलियोंमें सोनेके बने हुए विचित्र कवच धारण कर लिये

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato vimucya bāhubhyāṃ valayāni sa vīryavān citra-kāñcana-saṃnāhe pratyamuñcat tadā tale |

Translation

قال فايشَمبايانا: ثم إن ذلك البطل الجبّار، بعدما نزع الأساور والحُليّ عن ذراعيه، شدّ على كفّيه واقيًا عجيبًا من الذهب—إشارةً إلى عودته المتعمّدة من طور التخفي إلى طور الاستعداد والفعل المنضبط.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaishampayana

उवाचsaid

ततःthen, thereafter

विमुच्यhaving removed / having taken off

बाहुभ्याम्from (his) two arms

वलयानिbracelets/armlets

सःhe

वीर्यवान्mighty, valorous

चित्रकाञ्चनसंनाहेin/into the splendid golden armor (equipment)

प्रत्यामुञ्चत्put on, donned

तदाat that time

तलेon the palm/hand-surface

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Arjuna

valaya (bracelets/bangles)

citra-kāñcana-saṃnāha (wondrous golden protective gear/armour for the palms)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined readiness: setting aside adornment and adopting protective gear symbolizes a conscious shift from appearance to duty, aligning personal conduct with the demands of dharma and impending action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna removes bracelets/bangles from his arms and puts on a distinctive golden protective gear on his palms, indicating preparation for a serious encounter after a period of concealment.