Shloka 20

Devanagari script

ततो विधनुषं देवा देवश्रेष्ठमुपागमन्‌ । शरणं सह यज्ञेन प्रसादं चाकरोत्‌ प्रभु:,तब देवता यज्ञको साथ लेकर धनुषरहित देवश्रेष्ठ महादेवजीकी शरणमें गये। उस समय भगवान्‌ शिवने उन सबपर कृपा की

Transliteration

tato vidhanuṣaṃ devā devaśreṣṭham upāgaman | śaraṇaṃ saha yajñena prasādaṃ cākarot prabhuḥ ||

Translation

Alors les dieux s’approchèrent du plus éminent des dieux, désormais sans son arc, et—apportant avec eux le sacrifice—se réfugièrent en lui. Le Seigneur (Śiva), touché par leur abandon, leur accorda sa grâce bienveillante.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

विधनुषम्without a bow (disarmed)

देवाःthe gods

देवश्रेष्ठम्the best of gods (Mahādeva/Śiva)

उपागमन्approached, went to

शरणम्refuge, shelter

सहtogether with

यज्ञेनwith the sacrifice

प्रसादम्favor, grace

चand

अकरोत्made, granted

प्रभुःthe Lord

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

द

देवाः (the gods)

द

देवश्रेष्ठ (the foremost god—Śiva/Mahādeva implied)

य

यज्ञ (sacrifice/ritual)

ध

धनुष् (bow)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): even powerful beings secure protection not by force but by humility, proper intention, and approaching the divine with reverence; grace (prasāda) arises in response to sincere surrender.

What is happening in the narrative?

After events that leave the foremost deity without his bow, the gods approach him, bringing the sacrificial rite with them, and seek his shelter; Śiva, as the sovereign Lord, responds by bestowing his favor upon them.