Shloka 14

अर्जुनस्य इन्द्रकीलगमनम् तथा शक्रसाक्षात्कारः

Arjuna’s journey to Indrakīla and encounter with Indra

Devanagari script

त्वरया परया युक्तस्तपसे धृतनिश्चय: । वन॑ कण्टकितं घोरमेक एवान्वपद्यत,तपस्याके लिये दृढ़ निश्चय करके बड़ी उतावलीके साथ जाते हुए वे अकेले ही एक भयंकर कण्टकाकीर्ण वनमें पहुँचे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tvarayā parayā yuktaḥ tapase dhṛtaniścayaḥ | vanaṃ kaṇṭakitaṃ ghoraṃ eka evānvapadyata ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Resolute in his purpose of austerity, and driven by great haste, he went on alone and entered a dreadful forest thick with thorns—choosing hardship and solitude as the fitting path for his vowed discipline.

Word by Word

त्वरयाwith haste

परयाgreat, intense

युक्तःendowed/engaged (with)

तपसेfor austerity

धृतनिश्चयःhaving firm resolve

वनम्forest

कण्टकितम्thorny, full of thorns

घोरम्terrible, dreadful

एकःalone, single

एवindeed, just

अन्वपद्यतhe entered/reached

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

forest (vana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steadfast resolve (dhṛta-niścaya) in pursuing tapas is shown as a dharmic discipline: the seeker accepts hardship and even chooses solitude, indicating that inner purpose can outweigh fear and physical discomfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a determined figure, intent on performing austerities, moving quickly and alone into a terrifying, thorn-filled forest—signaling the beginning or intensification of an ascetic undertaking.