Shloka 49

वसुदेव–अर्जुन संवादः

Vasudeva–Arjuna Dialogue in the Aftermath of Dvārakā

Devanagari script

ततो यष्टिप्रहरणा दस्यवस्ते सहस्रश: । अभ्यधावन्त वृष्णीनां तं जन॑ लोप्नरहारिण:,ऐसा निश्चय करके लूटका माल उड़ानेवाले वे लट्ठधारी लुटेरे वृष्णिवंशियोंके उस समुदायपर हजारोंकी संख्यामें टूट पड़े

Transliteration

tato yaṣṭipraharaṇā dasyavas te sahasraśaḥ | abhyadhāvanta vṛṣṇīnāṃ taṃ janaṃ lopanārahāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Entonces, miles de bandidos armados con garrotes—resueltos a arrebatar y llevarse el botín—se precipitaron sobre aquella reunión de los Vṛṣṇis.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

यष्टि-प्रहरणाःarmed with clubs (having clubs as weapons)

दस्यवःrobbers, bandits

तेthose (they)

सहस्रशःby thousands, in thousands

अभ्यधावन्तran towards, rushed upon

वृष्णीनाम्of the Vrishnis

तम्that (him/that one)

जनम्people, group, multitude

लोप्न-रहारिणःplunder-carrying thieves (loot-bearers)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vṛṣṇis (Yādavas)

dasyavaḥ (bandits/robbers)

yaṣṭi (clubs/staves)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how swiftly adharma manifests when collective strength, vigilance, and moral restraint deteriorate: predatory forces arise to exploit disorder, illustrating the ethical warning that social stability depends on both power rightly governed and adherence to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes thousands of club-wielding robbers charging at the assembled Vṛṣṇis, intent on plunder—an episode within the Mausala Parva’s portrayal of the Yādavas’ unraveling and the spread of lawlessness.