Shloka 8

Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory

Devanagari script

विक्षिपन्‌ गाण्डिवं राजन्‌ बद्धगोधाडगुलित्रवान्‌ । तमश्वं पृथिवीपाल मुदा युक्त: ससार च

Transliteration

vaishampāyana uvāca | vikṣipan gāṇḍīvaṁ rājan baddha-godhā-ḍagulitravān | tam aśvaṁ pṛthivīpāla mudā yuktaḥ sasāra ca ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : Ô roi, Arjuna, portant des protège-bras attachés de peau de godhā (iguane), fit résonner la corde du Gāṇḍīva. Joyeux et tout entier à sa charge, le protecteur de la terre suivit ce cheval du sacrifice.

Word by Word

• विक्षिपन्: twanging/brandishing (lit. causing to vibrate)
• विक्षिपन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विक्षिप् (वि+क्षिप्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गाण्डिवम्: the Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• गाण्डिवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डिव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• बद्ध: having fastened/wearing (bound on)
• बद्ध: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (√बन्ध्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गोधा: of an iguana (lizard)
• गोधा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोधा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• अड्गुलित्रवान्: wearing a finger-guard/glove
• अड्गुलित्रवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गुलित्रवत् (अङ्गुलित्र + वत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अश्वम्: horse
• अश्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पृथिवीपाल: O protector of the earth (king)
• पृथिवीपाल: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपाल (पृथिवी + पाल)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• युक्तः: engaged/intent; joined (with joy)
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (√युज्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ससार: went/ran forth
• ससार: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृ (√सृ)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• च: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• Gāṇḍīva
• Aśvamedha horse

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed through disciplined readiness and cheerful commitment: Arjuna safeguards the Aśvamedha horse, supporting a rite that symbolizes lawful sovereignty and social order rather than personal aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the Aśvamedha horse roams, Arjuna—equipped with protective archery gear and sounding the Gāṇḍīva—sets out in high spirits to follow and protect the horse, ready to meet any challengers who contest the rite.