Shloka 24

Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ

Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit

Devanagari script

प्रख्यातास्ते<र्जुनं वीरं हनिष्यन्ति च मा शुचः । असपत्ना त्वया हीयं भोक्तव्या वसुधा नूप,इसीलिये हमलोंगोंने भी एक लाख दैत्यों तथा राक्षसोंको इस काममें लगा रखा है, जो संशप्तक नामसे विख्यात हैं। वे वीर अर्जुनको मार डालेंगे। अत: आप शोक न करें। नरेश्वर! आपको इस पृथ्वीका निष्कंटक राज्य भोगना है

Transliteration

prakhyātās te 'rjunaṃ vīraṃ haniṣyanti ca mā śucaḥ | asapatnā tvayā hīyaṃ bhoktavyā vasudhā nṛpa ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Those renowned warriors will surely slay the hero Arjuna—do not grieve. O king, this earth is to be enjoyed by you without a rival; you are destined to rule it unopposed.”

Word by Word

प्रख्याताःrenowned, famous

तेthey

अर्जुनम्Arjuna

वीरम्heroic, brave

हनिष्यन्तिwill kill

चand

माdo not

शुचःgrieve

असपत्नाrival-less, without enemies

त्वयाby you

हिindeed, for

इयम्this

भोक्तव्याto be enjoyed/ruled (must be enjoyed)

वसुधाearth

नूपO king (address)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

nṛpa (king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames political reassurance as a moral-psychological directive: the listener is urged to abandon grief and hold to the conviction of uncontested sovereignty. It highlights how promises of power and destiny are used to steady resolve in a conflict context.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports a statement meant to console and embolden a king: famed fighters are expected to kill Arjuna, so the king should not lament; the earth is portrayed as destined to be ruled by him without rivals.