Shloka 453

Devanagari script

भूय एव तदा वीर्य जिज्ञासु: सव्यसाचिन: । तदनन्तर इन्द्रने सव्यसाची अर्जुनके पराक्रमकी परीक्षा लेनेके लिये पुनः उनपर पत्थरोंकी बड़ी भारी वर्षा प्रारम्भ की

Transliteration

bhūya eva tadā vīrya-jijñāsuḥ savyasāciṇaḥ | tadanantaraṃ indreṇa savyasācī arjunasya parākramasya parīkṣāṃ kartum punaḥ tasmin śilā-pravṛṣṭiḥ (mahātī) prārabdhā |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Desiring once again to test the prowess of the ambidextrous Arjuna, Indra thereafter resumed a fierce trial—unleashing a heavy shower of stones upon him. The episode frames divine testing not as cruelty but as a measured proving of a hero’s steadiness, discipline, and worthiness for higher weapons and responsibilities.

Word by Word

• भूयः: again, once more
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्
• Form: Avyaya (comparative adverb)

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: Avyaya

• तदा: then, at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: Avyaya

• वीर्य: valor, prowess
• वीर्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• जिज्ञासुः: desirous to know/examine
• जिज्ञासुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिज्ञासु
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• सव्यसाचिनः: of Savyasācin (Arjuna)
• सव्यसाचिनः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सव्यसाचिन्
• Form: Masculine, genitive, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Indra
• Arjuna
• Savyasācin
• stones (śilā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence and authority are shown to require testing: a hero’s worth is proved through endurance, composure, and skill under pressure, especially when higher duties and divine gifts are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra, wishing to assess Arjuna’s true capability, initiates another ordeal by causing a heavy rain of stones, thereby examining Arjuna’s steadiness and martial competence.