Shloka 34

Devanagari script

ततो गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्ता निरमित्रं चिकीर्षव: । आगच्छन्‌ पुड्खसंश्लिष्टा: श्वेतवाहनपत्रिण:,तदनन्तर श्वेतवाहन अर्जुनके पंखधारी बाण गाण्डीव धनुषसे छूटकर संसारको शत्रुरहित करनेकी इच्छासे सब ओर आने लगे

Transliteration

tato gāṇḍīva-nirmuktā niramitraṃ cikīrṣavaḥ | āgacchan puṅkha-saṃśliṣṭāḥ śveta-vāhana-patriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Then the arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva—feathered shafts fitted with well-joined fletching—came flying forth, as if intent on making the world free of enemies, shot by Arjuna of the white chariot. The narration emphasizes the irresistible momentum of martial skill directed toward the removal of hostile forces.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय

• गाण्डीव-निर्मुक्ताः: released from (the bow) Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डीव-निर्मुक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मुक्त (√मुच् + नि + कृदन्त), गाण्डीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• निरमित्रम्: enemy-less, free of foes
• निरमित्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• चिकीर्षवः: wishing to do/make (i.e., intending)
• चिकीर्षवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिकीर्षु (√कृ, desiderative-based adjective)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• आगच्छन्: coming, approaching
• आगच्छन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आगच्छत् (√गम् + आ, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (शतृ-प्रत्ययः; क्रियाविशेषणभावे/वर्तमानकाले ‘coming’)

• पुङ्ख-संश्लिष्टाः: fitted with feathers (fletched)
• पुङ्ख-संश्लिष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संश्लिष्ट (√श्लिष् + सम्, कृदन्त), पुङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• श्वेत-वाहन-पत्रिणः: the feathered ones (arrows) of him whose chariot is white (Arjuna)
• श्वेत-वाहन-पत्रिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक), श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक), वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gāṇḍīva
• Arjuna (Śveta-vāhana)
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical frame of kṣatriya action: martial power is portrayed as legitimate when directed toward removing oppressive hostility and restoring safety. The imagery of arrows ‘intent on making (the world) enemyless’ underscores purposeful, duty-bound force rather than violence for its own sake.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s arrows, shot from the Gāṇḍīva, flying forth in great force. The arrows are characterized as feathered and well-made, and Arjuna is identified by the epithet ‘Śveta-vāhana’ (white-charioted), emphasizing his presence and prowess in the battle scene.