Shloka 50

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

गाण्डीवं त्रिषु लोकेषु ख्यातिं यदनुभावतः गतं तेन विनाभीरैर् लगुडैस् तन्निराकृतम्

Transliteration

gāṇḍīvaṃ triṣu lokeṣu khyātiṃ yadanubhāvataḥ gataṃ tena vinābhīrair laguḍais tannirākṛtam

Translation

That bow, Gāṇḍīva—whose power had carried its fame through the three worlds—was then, without him, struck down by fearless warriors with clubs, rendered useless, and driven back.

Word by Word

• गाण्डीवम्: Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna’s bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• त्रिषु: in three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्

• लोकेषु: worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• ख्यातिम्: fame
• ख्यातिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम

• अनुभावतः: from (its) influence/power
• अनुभावतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्; हेत्वर्थे (from/through the power of)

• गतम्: gone/attained
• गतम्: Kriya-visheshana (Predicate/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकृदन्तः (PPP)

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्ययम् (preposition/adverb meaning 'without')

• अभीरैः: by the Ābhīras (a people)
• अभीरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• लगुडैः: with clubs
• लगुडैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लगुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• तत्: that (bow)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम्; अन्वयतः 'गाण्डीवम्' इत्यस्य पुनरुक्त-सूचकः

• निराकृतम्: was repelled/overcome
• निराकृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्+आ+√कृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकृदन्तः (PPP) प्रयुक्तः कर्मणि-भावे (passive sense)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Kṛṣṇa’s departure and its immediate consequences for the Yādavas and their associates

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Gāṇḍīva

FAQs

What is the significance of the Gāṇḍīva bow being famed in the three worlds in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals an emblem of extraordinary martial power and reputation (trailokya-khyāti), yet the verse also stresses that even such celebrated might can be checked within the unfolding order of events.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the reversal of seemingly invincible power here?

Through narrative contrast: fame born of potency is not absolute—circumstances and opposing valor (the fearless wielding clubs) can neutralize what appears unstoppable.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic frame implies that worldly prowess and lineage-glory operate under a higher sovereignty—ultimate stability belongs to the Supreme Reality, not to weapons or fame.