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Shloka 35

Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion

Bṛhannadā/Arjuna

निष्पतन्तो रथात्‌ तस्य धौता हैरण्यवासस: । आकाशे समदृश्यन्त हंसानामिवपड्धक्तय:,उनके रथसे निकलते हुए सुनहरे पंखवाले श्वेत बाण आकाशमें हंसोंकी पंक्ति-से दिखायी देते थे

niṣpatanto rathāt tasya dhautā hairaṇyavāsasaḥ | ākāśe samadṛśyanta haṃsānām iva paṅktayaḥ ||

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als jene Pfeile aus seinem Wagen hervorschossen—hell, glänzend, als wären sie in goldenen Schimmer gekleidet—erschienen sie am Himmel wie geordnete Reihen von Schwänen. Das Bild hebt die ehrfurchtgebietende Kunst und die gezügelte Kraft des Kriegers hervor: selbst in der Gewalt ist das Tun Disziplin und Präzision, nicht Wirrsal.

निष्पतन्तःleaping/flying out
निष्पतन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनिष्-√पत्
Formशतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
रथात्from the chariot
रथात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
Formपुं, पञ्चमी, एकवचन
तस्यof him/of that
तस्य:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचन
धौताःwashed/bright (white)
धौताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Root√धाव् (धौ) / धौत
Formक्त (भूतकृदन्त), पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
हैरण्यवाससःhaving golden covering/feathers (golden-plumaged)
हैरण्यवाससः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहैरण्य-वासस्
Formपुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
आकाशेin the sky
आकाशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआकाश
Formनपुं, सप्तमी, एकवचन
समदृश्यन्तwere seen/appeared
समदृश्यन्त:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-√दृश्
Formलङ् (अनद्यतन भूत), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, बहुवचन
हंसानाम्of swans
हंसानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहंस
Formपुं, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
इवlike/as if
इव:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
पङ्क्तयःrows/lines
पङ्क्तयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपङ्क्ति
Formस्त्री, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
C
chariot (ratha)
A
arrows (implied by context: bāṇa)
S
sky (ākāśa)
S
swans (haṃsa)

Educational Q&A

The verse primarily teaches through aesthetics: power is most fearsome when governed by control. The warrior’s force is depicted as orderly and disciplined—suggesting that even in conflict, mastery involves restraint, precision, and composure rather than reckless aggression.

In the midst of battle description, the narrator portrays arrows being released from a chariot. Their bright, golden-gleaming appearance and their orderly flight make them look like lines of swans across the sky, emphasizing the archer’s prowess and the spectacle of the moment.