Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 11

अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तस्तदनादृत्य वाक्यमज्ञानमोहित: । स शक्रसमकर्माणं समवाकिरदाशुगै:

Transliteration

ity uktas tad anādṛtya vākyam ajñāna-mohitaḥ | sa śakra-sama-karmāṇaṃ samavākirad āśugaiḥ ||

Translation

उनके ऐसा कहने पर भी वह अज्ञान से मोहित होकर उनकी बात की अवहेलना कर बैठा और इन्द्र के समान पराक्रमी अर्जुन पर शीघ्रगामी बाणों की वर्षा करने लगा।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that (speech/statement)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनादृत्य: disregarding
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दृ (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्), Active

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अज्ञानमोहितः: deluded by ignorance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञान-मोहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्रसमकर्माणम्: one whose deeds are equal to Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रसमकर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र-सम-कर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समवाकिरत्: showered upon / covered with (missiles)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-किॄ (लङ्)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Active

• आशुगैः: with swift (arrows)
• आशुगैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशुग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śakra (Indra)
• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Delusion born of ignorance (ajñāna-moha) leads a person to dismiss wise counsel and choose escalation; ethical clarity requires honoring guidance that restrains harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being advised or addressed, the unnamed opponent ignores the words and attacks Arjuna—described as Indra-like in prowess—by raining swift arrows upon him.