Shloka 15

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

अयम् एको ऽर्जुनो धन्वी स्त्रीजनं निहतेश्वरम् नयत्य् अस्मान् अतिक्रम्य धिग् एतद् भवतां बलम्

Transliteration

ayam eko 'rjuno dhanvī strījanaṃ nihateśvaram nayaty asmān atikramya dhig etad bhavatāṃ balam

Translation

“This lone Arjuna, the bowman, has carried off the women‑folk—left lordless after their protector was slain—passing right beyond us. Fie upon this ‘strength’ of yours!”

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एकः: alone, single
• एकः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of अर्जुनः)

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धन्वी: armed with a bow
• धन्वी: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — ‘bowman’

• स्त्रीजनम्: the women-folk
• स्त्रीजनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — ‘स्त्री एव जनः’ (women-folk)

• निहतेश्वरम्: whose lord has been slain
• निहतेश्वरम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहत (कृदन्त; √हन्) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — ‘निहतः ईश्वरः यस्य’ (whose lord is slain); स्त्रीजनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• नयति: leads, carries off
• नयति: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• अतिक्रम्य: having overstepped
• अतिक्रम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Absolutive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति + √क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) — ‘having overstepped/passed beyond’

• धिक्: shame!
• धिक्: भावप्रकाशक (Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धिक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निन्दार्थ-निपात (interjection of censure) — ‘shame!’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेष्य/विषय (Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र निन्द्य-विषयवाचक (this)

• भवताम्: of you (all)
• भवताम्: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; honorific ‘you’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; आदरार्थ

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘एतत्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य/समासार्थ — ‘this is your strength’

Speaker

A lamenting onlooker/party associated with the defeated side in the royal conflict (as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When rightful protection collapses, mere physical ‘strength’ becomes shameful if it cannot uphold dharma and safeguard the vulnerable.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Measure power by one’s ability to protect dependents and maintain order, not by boasts or past victories.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied: protection (rakṣaṇa) is ultimately grounded in the Lord’s sustaining order; human might without dharma is hollow.

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (bowman)
• women-folk (strījana)
• slain lord/protector (nihateśvara)

FAQs

What is the significance of this verse’s condemnation of “strength” in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames true royal strength as dharmic protection; power that allows dependents to be violated or carried off is portrayed as shameful and illegitimate.

How does Sage Parāśara explain political Dharma through dynasty stories like this?

By narrating victories and defeats as moral lessons: rulers are measured not only by conquest but by their duty to protect subjects—especially those rendered vulnerable after a leader’s fall.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s history is governed by Vishnu’s order (dharma-niyati): kings rise and fall within a cosmos where righteousness, protection, and rightful sovereignty align with the Supreme’s sustaining principle.