Shloka 22

Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 187: Drupada’s Inquiry and the Dharma Debate on Draupadī’s Marriage

Devanagari script

पुष्पाणि दिव्यानि ववर्ष देव: पार्थस्य मूर्श्नि द्विषतां निहन्तुः,देवतालोग शत्रुहन्ता अर्जुनके मस्तकपर दिव्य फूलोंकी वर्षा करने लगे

Transliteration

puṣpāṇi divyāni vavarṣa devaḥ pārthasya mūrdhni dviṣatāṁ nihantuḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Der Gott, der Feindbezwinger, ließ einen Schauer himmlischer Blumen auf das Haupt Pārthas (Arjunas) niedergehen. Dieser Augenblick bezeichnet göttliche Billigung und Ehre für rechtschaffene Tapferkeit—einen Sieg, der im Einklang mit dem Dharma steht und nicht bloß aus Gewalt erwächst.

Word by Word

पुष्पाणिflowers

दिव्यानिdivine, celestial

ववर्षrained down, showered

देवःthe god (a deity)

पार्थस्यof Partha (Arjuna)

मूर्ध्निon (his) head

द्विषताम्of the haters, of the enemies

निहन्तुःof the slayer

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Deva (unspecified deity)

Pārtha (Arjuna)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse conveys that true valor gains recognition when it aligns with dharma: divine honors (the shower of celestial flowers) symbolize moral legitimacy and auspicious approval, not merely success in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that a deity showers heavenly flowers upon Arjuna’s head, publicly honoring him as a conqueror of foes and marking a moment of divine celebration of his prowess.