Shloka 15

Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory

Devanagari script

एतद्धि भीमनिर्द विश्रुतं गाण्डिवं धनुः । स्वस्ति गच्छत्वरिष्टो वै पनथानमकुतो भयम्‌

Transliteration

etaddhi bhīmanirda viśrutaṃ gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuḥ | svasti gacchatvariṣṭo vai panthānamakuto bhayam ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “This indeed is the famed Gāṇḍīva bow, renowned for its awe-inspiring might. May it proceed in auspiciousness, unharmed, along its path—without fear from any quarter.”

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• भीम-निर्द: terrible-sounding/with dreadful twang
• भीम-निर्द: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम-निर्द
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विश्रुतम्: well-known/famed
• विश्रुतम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• गाण्डिवम्: Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna's bow)
• गाण्डिवम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डिव
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्वस्ति: well-being/auspiciously
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वस्ति

• गच्छतु: may (it) go
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Imperative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अरिष्टः: unharmed/safe
• अरिष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed/surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• पन्थानम्: path/road
• पन्थानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्थान्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अकुतो-भयम्: without fear from any quarter
• अकुतो-भयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुतोभय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a revered weapon not merely as an instrument of force but as something to be handled within an auspicious, protective moral atmosphere—invoking safety, right passage, and freedom from harm, reflecting the epic’s concern for restraint and proper guardianship of power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana identifies the celebrated bow Gāṇḍīva and pronounces a benediction for its safe, fear-free journey—an auspicious send-off that underscores its renown and the desire that it move without obstruction or danger.