Shloka 25

Mātali’s Arrival and Arjuna’s Ascent toward Amarāvatī (मातलिसंयुक्तरथागमनम् तथा इन्द्रलोकगमनारम्भः)

Devanagari script

वज्जग्रहणचिह्लेन करेण परिसान्त्वयन्‌ । मुहुर्मुहुर्वज़धरो बाहू चास्फोटयच्छनै:,वज्रधारी इन्द्र वज्रधारणजनित चिह्से सुशोभित दाहिने हाथसे अर्जुनको बार-बार सान्त्वना देते हुए उनकी भुजाओंको धीरे-धीरे थपथपाने लगे

Transliteration

vajragrahaṇacihnena kareṇa parisāntvayan | muhurmuhur vajradharo bāhū cāsphoṭayacchanaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Indra, wielder of the vajra, his right hand marked by the signs of holding the thunderbolt, reassured Arjuna again and again, gently patting and pressing his arms, granting calm and confidence in a moment of strain.

Word by Word

वज्रग्रहणचिह्नेनwith the mark/sign of holding the thunderbolt

करेणwith (his) hand

परिसान्त्वयन्comforting (him)

मुहुःagain and again

मुहुःrepeatedly

वज्रधरःthe thunderbolt-bearer (Indra)

बाहू(his) two arms

चand

अस्फोटयत्patted/pressed (gently, repeatedly)

शनैःslowly, gently

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Indra

Vajra

Arjuna

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?

Strength is sustained by reassurance and right guidance: even a great warrior benefits from calm, steady encouragement, especially when facing demanding duties.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Indra, identified by the marks of wielding the vajra, repeatedly comforts Arjuna and gently pats his arms, signaling support and restoring his resolve.