Shloka 25

Aśvatthāman’s Admonition to Karṇa on Boasting, Varṇa-Duties, and the Threat of Arjuna

Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 45

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो विमुच्य बाहुभ्यां वलयानि स वीर्यवान्‌ चित्र काञ्चनसंनाहे प्रत्यमुज्चत्‌ तदा तले,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर पराक्रमी अर्जुनने हाथोंसे कड़े और चूड़ियाँ उतार दीं और हथेलियोंमें सोनेके बने हुए विचित्र कवच धारण कर लिये

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato vimucya bāhubhyāṃ valayāni sa vīryavān citra-kāñcana-saṃnāhe pratyamuñcat tadā tale |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then that mighty hero, having removed the bracelets and bangles from his arms, fastened on his palms a wondrous golden protective gear—signaling a deliberate return from concealment to readiness and disciplined action.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaishampayana

उवाचsaid

ततःthen, thereafter

विमुच्यhaving removed / having taken off

बाहुभ्याम्from (his) two arms

वलयानिbracelets/armlets

सःhe

वीर्यवान्mighty, valorous

चित्रकाञ्चनसंनाहेin/into the splendid golden armor (equipment)

प्रत्यामुञ्चत्put on, donned

तदाat that time

तलेon the palm/hand-surface

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Arjuna

valaya (bracelets/bangles)

citra-kāñcana-saṃnāha (wondrous golden protective gear/armour for the palms)

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 disciplined readiness: setting aside adornment and adopting protective gear symbolizes a conscious shift from appearance to duty, aligning personal conduct with the demands of dharma and impending action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna removes bracelets/bangles from his arms and puts on a distinctive golden protective gear on his palms, indicating preparation for a serious encounter after a period of concealment.