Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 40

तमग्नि: प्रार्थयामास दिशधरक्षुर्वातसारथि:,कृष्णमशभ्युद्यतास्त्रं च नादं मुमुचुरुल्बणम्‌ | उन्होंने उस जलते हुए वनको और मारनेके लिये अस्त्र उठाये हुए श्रीकृष्ण तथा अर्जुनको देखा। उत्पात और आर्तनादके शब्दसे उस वनमें खड़े हुए वे सभी प्राणी संत्रस्त- से हो उठे थे। उस वनको अनेक प्रकारसे दग्ध होते देख और अस्त्र उठाये हुए श्रीकृष्णपर दृष्टि डाल भयानक आर्तनाद करने लगे

tam agniḥ prārthayāmāsa diśadharakṣur-vātasārathiḥ | kṛṣṇam abhyudyatāstraṃ ca nādaṃ mumucur ulbaṇam ||

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Da begann Agni—dessen Augen die Hüter der Himmelsrichtungen waren und dessen Wagenlenker der Wind war—sie anzuflehen. Als die Wesen im Wald Kṛṣṇa und (Arjuna) mit erhobenen Waffen sahen, von Unheilszeichen und Angstschreien erschüttert, stießen sie ein furchtbares Brüllen aus, während das Gehölz auf vielerlei Weise in Flammen stand.

तम्him/that
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular
अग्निःfire
अग्निः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रार्थयामासbegged/entreated
प्रार्थयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-अर्थ् (प्रार्थयति)
FormPerfect (Periphrastic), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
दिशधरक्षुःthe direction-bearing one (i.e., the wind)
दिशधरक्षुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदिशधरक्षु (दिश्-धर-क्षु)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वातसारथिःhaving the wind as charioteer (fire)
वातसारथिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवातसारथि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृष्णम्Krishna
कृष्णम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्ण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अशभिwith horses
अशभि:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअश (अश्व?)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
उद्यतraised/held up
उद्यत:
TypeAdjective
Rootउद्-यम्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अस्त्रम्weapon/missile
अस्त्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअस्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
नादम्sound/roar
नादम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाद
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
मुमुचुःthey released/uttered
मुमुचुः:
TypeVerb
Rootमुच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
उल्बणम्terrible/violent
उल्बणम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootउल्बण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Agni
K
Kṛṣṇa
A
Arjuna
F
forest (Khaṇḍava context implied)
W
wind (Vāta)
G
guardians of the directions (Diśādhara/Lokapālas)
W
weapons (astra)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how actions driven by divine purpose and heroic resolve can still generate widespread fear and suffering; it invites reflection on the ethical tension between necessity (a cosmic or vowed aim) and compassion for living beings caught in the event.

As the forest burns, Agni approaches and entreats (Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna). The creatures within the forest, seeing the heroes with weapons raised and overwhelmed by ominous signs and distress, cry out with a terrible roar.