Shloka 2

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release

Devanagari script

कच्चिन् ममैषां बाहूनां साफल्यजनको रणः भविष्यति विना युद्धं भाराय मम किं भुजैः

Transliteration

kaccin mamaiṣāṃ bāhūnāṃ sāphalyajanako raṇaḥ bhaviṣyati vinā yuddhaṃ bhārāya mama kiṃ bhujaiḥ

Translation

Will there truly come a battle that makes these arms of mine meaningful? For without war, what are my arms to me but a burden?

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether, I wonder
• कच्चित्: प्रश्नसूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थ-निपात (interrogative particle) — ‘whether?, I wonder’

• मम: of me, my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (बाहूनाम् इत्यस्य), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• बाहूनाम्: of (my) arms
• बाहूनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• साफल्यजनकः: bringing success
• साफल्यजनकः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Attribute of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साफल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — ‘साफल्यस्य जनकः’ (producer of success); रणः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रणः: battle
• रणः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future/लृट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विना: without
• विना: सम्बन्ध (Exclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘without’ (exclusion)

• युद्धम्: fighting, war
• युद्धम्: विना-सम्बद्ध कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भाराय: for a burden
• भाराय: सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थ — ‘for burden’

• मम: for me / my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: प्रश्न/प्रयोजन-निरूपण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्नार्थ-निपात (interrogative) — ‘what use?’

• भुजैः: with arms
• भुजैः: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

A kshatriya king/warrior figure within the dynastic narrative (spoken as a royal lament for untested valor; specific attribution varies by recension/edition)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: narrative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power without dharmic aim becomes mere weight, and desire for conflict is a symptom of inner unrest.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Examine motives behind competitiveness; cultivate purpose, restraint, and service-oriented action.

Vishishtadvaita: True ‘sāphalya’ (fulfillment) is alignment with Bhagavān’s dharma, not egoic display of capacity.

FAQs

What is the significance of kshatriya dharma in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse voices the kshatriya ideal that strength (arms) is meant for protecting order through righteous conflict when necessary; otherwise power becomes mere weight without purpose.

How does Sage Parāśara explain duty and action through dynastic stories?

Through lineage narratives, Parāśara presents kings as instruments of dharma: their capabilities gain meaning when aligned with rightful responsibility, not personal vanity.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s dynastic episodes imply that sovereignty and valor are subordinate to a higher cosmic order ultimately upheld by Vishnu as the Supreme Reality.