Shloka 4

Divyāstrāṇāṃ Pradarśana-nivāraṇa

Display of Divine Weapons and Its Prohibition

Devanagari script

ततो<श्मवर्षे विहते जलवर्ष महत्तरम्‌ । धाराभिरक्षमात्राभि: प्रादुरासीन्‍्ममान्तिके,तदनन्तर मेरे बाणोंसे वह पत्थरोंकी वर्षा शान्त होनेपर महत्तर जल-वृष्टि आरम्भ हो गयी। मेरे पासही सर्पोके- समान मोटी जलधाराएँ गिरने लगीं

Transliteration

tato ’śmavarṣe vihate jalavarṣa mahattaram | dhārābhir akṣamātrābhiḥ prādurāsīn mamāntike ||

Translation

Then, when the shower of stones had been checked, a far greater downpour of water arose. Near me, torrents as thick as an axle suddenly poured down, as though the very elements had been unleashed to obstruct my course.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

अश्मवर्षेwhen the stone-shower (hail of stones) [was]

विहतेhaving been struck down / stopped

जलवर्षम्a rain-shower (downpour of water)

महत्तरम्greater, more intense

धाराभिःwith streams (in streams)

अक्षमात्राभिःof the measure/thickness of an axle (axle-thick)

प्रादुरासीत्appeared, arose, began

ममof me, my

अन्तिकेnear, in the vicinity

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

stone-shower (aśmavarṣa)

water-downpour (jalavarṣa)

torrents/streams (dhārāḥ)

axle (akṣa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness under escalating trials: when one obstacle is overcome, another may arise, and the ethical ideal is to remain composed and resolute rather than yielding to fear or confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna reports that after he neutralizes a barrage of stones, an even stronger deluge begins; thick, forceful streams of water suddenly fall close to him, intensifying the challenge he faces.