Shloka 12

Chapter 14: Divyāstra-Prayoga and Ṛṣi Intervention (दिव्यास्त्रप्रयोगः ऋषिसमागमश्च)

Devanagari script

उभौ शमयितुं वीरौ भारद्वाजधनंजयौ

Transliteration

ubhau śamayituṁ vīrau bhāradvāja-dhanañjayau, sampūrṇa-dharmau jñātārau tathā samasta-prāṇināṁ hitaiṣiṇau; tau dvau parama-tejasvī munī aśvatthāmā arjunaś ca—etau vīrau śāntayituṁ tayoḥ prajvalitāstrayoḥ madhye sthitau.

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Pour apaiser ces deux héros—le fils de Bhāradvāja (Aśvatthāmā) et Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)—les deux sages d’une radiance suprême, solidement établis dans le dharma, clairvoyants dans le discernement et voués au bien de tous les êtres, se tinrent entre leurs armes flamboyantes et prêtes, afin de contenir l’affrontement avant qu’il n’entraîne une ruine plus vaste.

Word by Word

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• शमयितुम्: to pacify, to calm
• शमयितुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम् (शमयति)
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• वीरौ: two heroes
• वीरौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• भारद्वाजधनंजयौ: Bhāradvāja (Aśvatthāman) and Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• भारद्वाजधनंजयौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज + धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• सम्पूर्णः: complete, perfect
• सम्पूर्णः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्पूर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मज्ञः: knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: and, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• समस्तप्राणिहितैषी: well-wisher of all living beings
• समस्तप्राणिहितैषी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त + प्राणि + हितैषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वे: those two
• वे: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सः)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• परमतेजस्वी: supremely radiant/powerful
• परमतेजस्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + तेजस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• मुनि: sages
• मुनि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अश्वत्थामा: Aśvatthāman
• अश्वत्थामा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एतयोः: of these two
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• वीरयोः: of the two heroes
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• शान्तिं: peace, pacification
• शान्तिं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कर्तुम्: to do, to make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• प्रज्वलितास्त्रयोः: of the two blazing missiles/weapons
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्वलित + अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य

• स्थितौ: stood, stationed
• स्थितौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), used adjectivally, Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Aśvatthāmā
• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• Bhāradvāja
• Astra (blazing weapons)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the aftermath of catastrophe, dharma expresses itself as restraint: those who truly seek the welfare of all beings intervene to prevent escalation, placing ethical responsibility above victory or vengeance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aśvatthāmā and Arjuna are poised with blazing, empowered weapons against each other. Two dharma-knowing sages step between them to calm both warriors and avert a destructive exchange.