Shloka 8

Book 3, Āraṇyaka-parva — Adhyāya 19: Pradyumna’s Reproach of Withdrawal and the Ethics of Kṣātra Reputation

Devanagari script

मण्डलानि विचित्राणि यमकानीतराणि च । सव्यानि च विचित्राणि दक्षिणानि च सर्वश:,उसने समान-असमान और वाम-दक्षिण आदि सब प्रकारकी विचित्र मण्डलाकार गतिसे रथका संचालन किया

Transliteration

maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi yamakānītarāṇi ca | savyāni ca vicitrāṇi dakṣiṇāni ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyudeva sprach: „Er lenkte den Wagen auf jede Weise: er zog wunderliche Kreisbahnen, führte Doppel- und andere kunstvolle Manöver aus und wandte sich nach allen Richtungen, nach links wie nach rechts.“

Word by Word

मण्डलानिcircles; circular patterns/movements

विचित्राणिvariegated; diverse; wonderful

यमकानिpaired/double (maneuvers); twin patterns

इतराणिother; different

चand

सव्यानिleft (hand/side) (maneuvers)

चand

विचित्राणिvariegated; diverse

दक्षिणानिright (hand/side) (maneuvers)

चand

सर्वशःin every way; altogether

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu-deva

chariot (ratha)

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?

Power and speed become admirable only when governed by discipline and precision; mastery is shown through controlled, all-directional command rather than impulsive force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva describes a display of expert chariot-driving: the driver makes intricate circular patterns and complex paired maneuvers, turning left and right in every possible way.