Shloka 37

निवातकवचवधः — Arjuna’s Neutralization of the Nivātakavacas

Vajra-astra deployment

Devanagari script

अवैक्षत च मे वकक्‍त्रं स्थितस्याथ स सारथि:

Transliteration

avaikṣata ca me vaktraṃ sthitasyātha sa sārathiḥ

Translation

Da blickte der Wagenlenker, der neben mir stand, aufmerksam in mein Gesicht.

Word by Word

• अवैक्षत्: looked at, beheld
• अवैक्षत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, 3, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• वक्त्रम्: face, mouth
• वक्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्थितस्य: of (me) standing / while (I) stood
• स्थितस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (→ स्थित)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सारथिः: charioteer
• सारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• sārathi (charioteer)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A leader or guide must first discern the inner state—fear, resolve, confusion, or readiness—before offering counsel or initiating action; attentive observation is part of responsible guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna reports that the charioteer, standing near him, carefully looked at his face, as if assessing his mood and intention before responding or proceeding.