Shloka 54

Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)

Devanagari script

अश्वत्थामा द्रोणपुत्रो रौद्रोंशो दुर्जयोऽति सः । मया साध्या भवेयुस्ते सर्वथा स्वहितं शृणु

Transliteration

aśvatthāmā droṇaputro raudroṃśo durjayo'ti saḥ | mayā sādhyā bhaveyuste sarvathā svahitaṃ śṛṇu

Translation

“He is Aśvatthāmā, the son of Droṇa—invincible, a portion (aṃśa) of Rudra-like power. By me, your aims shall be accomplished in every way; listen to what is truly for your own welfare.”

Word by Word

• अश्वत्थामा: Aśvatthāmā
• अश्वत्थामा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्रोण-पुत्रः: son of Droṇa
• द्रोण-पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Droṇa's son)

• रौद्र-अंशः: a portion of Rudra
• रौद्र-अंशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारयार्थ-तत्पुरुष (a portion/emanation of Rudra)

• दुर्जयः: hard to conquer
• दुर्जयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्जय (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + जय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सः)

• अति: exceedingly
• अति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Intensifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (intensifier: exceedingly)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• साध्याः: can be subdued/achieved
• साध्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक; √साध् धातु से निष्पन्न, कृत्य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) — 'to be accomplished/achievable'

• भवेयुः: would become / might be
• भवेयुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to enemies/warriors)

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: in every way)

• स्व-हितम्: your own welfare
• स्व-हितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (one's own welfare)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Unspecified in the isolated verse (context-dependent within the chapter’s narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Aśvatthāmā
• Droṇa
• Rudra (as implied by raudra-aṃśa)

FAQs

What does the expression “raudroṃśa” suggest in Purāṇic theological language?

In Purāṇic usage, aṃśa (“portion” or “partial manifestation”) often indicates that a figure is understood to embody a specific divine potency rather than being identical with the deity in full. Here “raudroṃśa” frames Aśvatthāmā as bearing Rudra-like energy—fierce, formidable, and spiritually charged—supporting the verse’s emphasis on his being “durjaya” (hard to conquer).