Shloka 153
Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory
निवृत्तमेनं द्रक्ष्याम: पुनरेष्यति च ध्रुवम् । नरेन्द्र! दूसरे लोग ये बातें कहते थे--“इस भीड़में हम अर्जुनको तो नहीं देखते हैं; किंतु उनका यह धनुष दिखायी देता है। यही वह भयंकर टंकार करनेवाला विख्यात गाण्डीव धनुष है। अर्जुनकी यात्रा सकुशल हो। उन्हें मार्गमें कोई कष्ट न हो। ये निर्भय मार्गपर आगे बढ़ते रहें। ये निश्चय ही कुशलपूर्वक लौटेंगे और उस समय हम फिर इनका दर्शन करेंगे”
nivṛttam enaṁ drakṣyāmaḥ punar eṣyati ca dhruvam | narendra! pare janā etāḥ kathāḥ kathayanti sma—“asmin janasaṁghāte vayaṁ nārjunaṁ paśyāmaḥ; kintu tasya dhanuḥ pratyakṣam iva dṛśyate | eṣa eva bhīmaṭaṅkāraḥ prasiddho gāṇḍīvo dhanuḥ | arjunasya yātrā sukhaśivā bhavatu | mārgamadhye tasya kaścid upadravo mā bhūt | nirbhayaṁ panthānam agre gacchatu | sa niścayena kuśalena punar āgamiṣyati, tadā vayaṁ punar asya darśanaṁ lapsyāmaḥ”
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “We shall see him again after he has turned back; surely he will return. O king, people were saying among themselves: ‘In this crowd we do not see Arjuna, yet his bow is clearly visible. This is that famed Gāṇḍīva, terrible in its resounding twang. May Arjuna’s journey be auspicious; may no hardship befall him on the road. Let him proceed fearlessly along the path. He will certainly come back in safety, and then we shall behold him again.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights communal dharmic goodwill: people bless the righteous hero’s journey, pray for freedom from harm, and express confident hope in his safe return—showing how public speech can uphold courage, auspiciousness, and moral support.
As Arjuna proceeds on his mission, the crowd cannot see him directly but recognizes him by the visible, famous Gāṇḍīva bow. They comment on its fearsome twang and offer blessings that he travel safely and return, so they may see him again.