Shloka 3

Vāraṇāvatāgamana: Public Farewell, Vidura’s Coded Counsel, and Departure

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त: सव्यसाची मण्डलीकृतकार्मुक: । तस्थौ भासं समुद्दिश्य गुरुवाक्यप्रचोदित:,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर अर्जुनने धनुषको इस प्रकार खींचा कि वह मण्डलाकार (गोल) प्रतीत होने लगा। फिर वे गुरुकी आज्ञासे प्रेरित हो गीधकी ओर लक्ष्य करके खड़े हो गये

Transliteration

evaṁuktaḥ savyasācī maṇḍalīkṛta-kārmukaḥ | tasthau bhāsaṁ samuddiśya guru-vākya-pracoditaḥ ||

Translation

Thus addressed, Arjuna—renowned as the ambidextrous archer—drew his bow so swiftly that it seemed to form a circle. Urged on by his teacher’s command, he stood poised, fixing his aim upon the bird (the target).

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

सव्यसाचीAmbidextrous one (Arjuna)

मण्डलीकृतकार्मुकःone whose bow was made circular (whirled/rounded)

तस्थौstood

भासम्the vulture (Bhāsa)

समुद्दिश्यaiming at / directing towards

गुरुवाक्यप्रचोदितःimpelled by the teacher's words

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna (Savyasācī)

Guru (teacher)

Bow (kārmuka)

Bird target (bhāsa)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined focus and ethical training: the student restrains distractions, follows the teacher’s instruction, and channels skill into precise, controlled action—an ideal of śikṣā (training) aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being instructed, Arjuna draws his bow so rapidly it appears circular, then stands ready and aims at the bird target, acting under his teacher’s command as part of an archery test/training scene.