Shloka 31

Devanagari script

दीर्घा वेणीं विधुन्वान: साधु रक्ते च वाससी । विधूय वेणीं धावन्तमजानन्तो<र्जुनं तदा

Transliteration

dīrghāṃ veṇīṃ vidhunvānaḥ sādhu rakte ca vāsasī | vidhūya veṇīṃ dhāvantam ajānanto 'rjunaṃ tadā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Secouant sa longue tresse et vêtu de beaux habits rouges, il courait en faisant voler sa natte ; mais alors on ne le reconnut pas pour Arjuna.

Word by Word

• दीर्घाम्: long
• दीर्घाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वेणीम्: braid (of hair)
• वेणीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विधुन्वानः: shaking, tossing
• विधुन्वानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धुन्व्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• साधु: well, properly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु

• रक्ते: in/with the red (ones)
• रक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Dual

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

• वाससी: garments, clothes
• वाससी: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Dual

• विधूय: having shaken off / having shaken
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धू
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• वेणीम्: braid (of hair)
• वेणीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• धावन्तम्: running
• धावन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• अजानन्तः: not knowing, unaware
• अजानन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle), with privative a-

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• veṇī (braided hair)
• red garments

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how external forms—dress and appearance—can conceal true nature and identity; ethical discernment should not rely solely on outward signs, especially in moments that shape destiny.

What is happening in the narrative?

A figure—actually Arjuna—runs while shaking his long braid and wearing fine red clothes, but the onlookers do not recognize him at that moment, sustaining the suspense of his concealed identity in the Virāṭa episode.