Shloka 22

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त: पाण्डवेयेन किरात: प्रहसन्निव । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पाण्डवं सव्यसाचिनम्‌,पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनके इस प्रकार कहनेपर किरात-वेषधारी भगवान्‌ शंकर जोर-जोरसे हँस पड़े और सव्यसाची पाण्डवसे मधुर वाणीमें बोले--

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ pāṇḍaveyena kirātaḥ prahasann iva | uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā pāṇḍavaṃ savyasācinam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah putra Pāṇḍu berkata demikian, sang Kirāta—seakan tertawa kecil—berbicara kepada Arjuna sang Pāṇḍava, yang termasyhur sebagai Savyasācin, dengan tutur kata yang lembut dan terpilih.

Word by Word

इतिthus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

पाण्डवेयेनby the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna)

किरातःthe Kirāta (hunter)

प्रहसन्laughing

इवas if

उवाचsaid

श्लक्ष्णयाwith gentle/smooth

वाचाspeech/words

पाण्डवम्the Pāṇḍava

सव्यसाचिनम्the ambidextrous archer (Arjuna)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Arjuna

Pāṇḍu

Kirāta (disguised Śaṅkara/Śiva)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when challenged or mocked, one should maintain discernment and humility; divine encounters may come in ordinary or deceptive forms, and refined speech and self-control are signs of higher dharma and readiness for divine grace.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Arjuna speaks, the Kirāta (actually Śiva in disguise) laughs and then addresses Arjuna gently, indicating the beginning of a deliberate test and dialogue that will reveal Arjuna’s worthiness and lead toward divine favor.