Shloka 8

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

Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 45

Devanagari script

ज्याक्षेपणं क्रोधकृतं नेमीनिनददुन्दुभि | नगर ते मया गुप्तं रथोपस्थं भविष्यति,मुझसे सुरक्षित होकर रथका यह ऊपरी भाग ही तुम्हारे लिये नगर हो जायगा। इस रथके जो धुरी-पहिये आदि अंग हैं, उनकी सुदृढ़ कल्पना ही नगरकी गलियोंके दोनों भागोंमें बने हुए गृहोंका विस्तार है। मेरी दोनों भुजाएँ ही चहारदीवारी और नगरद्वार हैं। इस रथमें जो त्रिदण्ड (हरिस और उसके अगल-बगलकी लकड़ियाँ) तथा तूणीर आदि हैं, वे किसीको यहाँतक फटकने नहीं देंगे। जैसे नगरमें हाथीसवार, घुड़सवार तथा रथी--इन त्रिविध सेनाओं तथा आयुधोंके कारण उसके भीतर दूसरोंका प्रवेश करना असम्भव होता है। नगरमें जैसे बहुत-सी ध्वजा-पताकाएँ फहराती हैं, उसी प्रकार इस रथमें भी फहरा रही हैं। धनुषकी प्रत्यज्चा ही नगरमें लगी हुई तोपकी नली है, जिसका क्रोधपूर्वक उपयोग होता है और रथके पहियोंकी घर्घराहटको ही नगरमें बजनेवाले नगाड़ोंकी आवाज समझो

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | jyākṣepaṇaṁ krodhakṛtaṁ nemīnina-dadundubhi | nagaraṁ te mayā guptaṁ rathopasthaṁ bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

Arjuna said: “The twang produced by drawing the bowstring in wrath, and the rumbling of the wheel-rims like kettledrums—know this chariot itself will become your fortified city, protected by me. Its upper frame will serve you as a stronghold; its axle, wheels, and fittings will be like streets and rows of houses; my two arms will be your ramparts and gates; and the chariot’s triple pole and quivers will keep all intruders at bay. As a well-defended city cannot be entered when guarded by elephants, cavalry, charioteers, and weapons, so too none will break through while I stand as your protection.”

Word by Word

ज्याक्षेपणम्the twang/shot of the bowstring

क्रोधकृतम्done in anger; anger-caused

नेमीनिनददुन्दुभिa drum-like roar of the wheel-rims (i.e., wheel-rumble as kettle-drum)

नगरa city; a fortified place

तेfor you; to you

मयाby me

गुप्तम्protected; guarded

रथोपस्थम्the chariot-platform; the upper standing-place of the chariot

भविष्यतिwill become; will be

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

chariot (ratha)

bowstring (jyā)

wheel-rim (nemī)

war-drum (dundubhi)

city/fortress (nagara)

quiver (tūṇīra, implied in the passage)

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?

Courage and protection grounded in kṣatriya-dharma: Arjuna reframes fear into confidence by presenting disciplined martial readiness as a ‘fortress,’ emphasizing that steadfast skill and responsibility can become a shield for others.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Virāṭa episode, Arjuna reassures his companion (Uttara in context) before battle by describing the chariot as a fully defended city: the bowstring’s twang, wheel-noise, weapons, and Arjuna’s own arms together form an impregnable defense.