Mahabharata 3.39.70 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 70

Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas

Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva

Devanagari script

ददामि ते विशालाक्ष चक्षु: पूर्वऋषिर्भवान्‌ । विजेष्यसि रणे शत्रूनपि सर्वान्‌ दिवौकस:

Transliteration

dadāmi te viśālākṣa cakṣuḥ pūrvarṣir bhavān | vijeṣyasi raṇe śatrūn api sarvān divaukasaḥ ||

Translation

Bhava sprach: „O du Weitblickender, ich gewähre dir göttliche Schau. Wahrlich, du bist der uralte Seher, der Nara genannt wird. In der Schlacht wirst du deine Feinde besiegen — selbst wenn es alle Bewohner des Himmels wären.“

Word by Word

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• विशालाक्ष: O large-eyed one
• Type: Noun (vocative epithet)
• Root: विशालाक्ष
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• चक्षुः: eye; sight
• चक्षुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूर्वऋषिः: a former rishi
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वऋषि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवान्: you (hon.)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun (honorific)
• Root: भवत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजेष्यसि: you will conquer
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (जय)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्), मध्यम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• शत्रून्: enemies
• शत्रून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सर्वान्: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दिवौकसः: the dwellers in heaven (gods)
• दिवौकसः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवौकस्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

भव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhava (Śiva)
• Nara (ancient ṛṣi)
• divaukasaḥ (the gods/heaven-dwellers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Austerity and steadfast purpose, when aligned with dharma, can draw divine grace; the boon (divine sight) is not mere power but a means to perceive reality more clearly and to fulfill a righteous duty without being overawed even by celestial opposition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhava (Śiva) addresses the hero, grants him divine vision, and reveals his deeper identity as the ancient seer Nara, assuring him of victory in battle even against heavenly beings—thereby legitimizing his forthcoming martial success as divinely sanctioned.