Shloka 53
Devanagari script
ननु त्वाहुर्वेदितारं महास्त्रं ब्राह्मं विधेयं परमं जनास्तत्
Transliteration
nanu tvāhur veditāraṁ mahāstraṁ brāhmaṁ vidheyaṁ paramaṁ janās tat
Translation
Sañjaya said: “Surely people declare that the supreme Brahmā-weapon—the great celestial missile—should be employed only by one who truly knows it.” The line underscores a moral restraint in warfare: the right to wield the highest, most destructive power is inseparable from disciplined knowledge and responsible intent, not mere possession or ambition.
Word by Word
ननुindeed; surely; well then
ननु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootननु
त्वाyou (object)
त्वा:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootत्वद्
FormAccusative, Singular
आहुःthey say; they have said
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
वेदितारम्knower; one who knows
वेदितारम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवेदितृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महास्त्रम्a great weapon (astra)
महास्त्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहास्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ब्राह्मम्Brahma-related; Brahmic
ब्राह्मम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootब्राह्म
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विधेयम्to be employed/used; to be applied
विधेयम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-धा (विधा) + यत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
परमम्supreme; highest
परमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaB
Brāhmāstra (Brahmā-weapon)Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Geographic Context
Sandhi Notes