Shloka 41
अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः
स्पृष्टो नखाम्भसा वाथ घटवार्युक्षितो ऽपि वा तेनातीवासि विच्छायो न्यूनैर् वा युधि निर्जितः
spṛṣṭo nakhāmbhasā vātha ghaṭavāryukṣito 'pi vā tenātīvāsi vicchāyo nyūnair vā yudhi nirjitaḥ
Whether you were merely touched by the water clinging to a fingernail, or even sprinkled by water poured from a pot—by that alone you have become utterly without luster; or else, defeated in battle by men fewer than yourself, you stand diminished and shorn of radiance.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; the verse itself reflects speech within a royal episode)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How Arjuna’s prowess waned and what signs indicated Hari’s departure.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Concept: Even a slight cause can collapse worldly ‘tejas’ when divine support is withdrawn; therefore, pride in strength is fragile.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice detachment from status/competence; anchor identity in devotion and ethical steadiness.
Vishishtadvaita: Jīva’s capacities are dependent (śeṣatva) on the Lord; when the Lord’s sustaining grace is absent, apparent power dissolves.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
In this verse, becoming 'vicchāya' signals the collapse of tejas—royal dignity and moral authority—often portrayed as the visible consequence of humiliation or defeat.
The narration uses the language of honor and public standing: even a small act (a mere sprinkling of water) or an inferior military defeat is presented as enough to strip a ruler of prestige.
Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the Purana’s broader frame treats such rises and falls of kings as occurring within Vishnu’s cosmic governance of dharma and the moral order of society.