Shloka 19
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka
कवची सतलत्राणो बद्धगोधाड्गुलित्रवान् | ह॒त्वानिनें ब्राह्मणान्निष्कै: स्वस्ति वाच्य महाभुज:,धर्मराजकी आज्ञासे देवराज इन्द्रका दर्शन करनेकी इच्छा मनमें रखकर महाबाहु धनंजयने अग्निमें आहुति दी और स्वर्णमुद्राओंकी दक्षिणा देकर ब्राह्मणोंसे स्वस्ति-वाचन कराया तथा गाण्डीव धनुष और दो महान् अक्षय तूणीर साथ ले कवच, तलत्राण (जूते) तथा अंगुलियोंकी रक्षाके लिये गोहके चमड़ेका बना हुआ अंगुलित्र धारण किया। इसके बाद ऊपरकी ओर देख लंबी साँस खींचकर धुृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंके वधके लिये महाबाहु अर्जुन धनुष हाथमें लिये वहाँसे प्रस्थित हुए
vaiśampāyana uvāca | kavacī satalatrāṇo baddhagodhāṅgulitravān | hutvā ninye brāhmaṇān niṣkaiḥ svasti vācya mahābhujaḥ | dharmarājasya ājñayā devarāja-indra-darśana-kāmo dhanañjayo 'gnim āhutiṃ dadau | suvarṇa-niṣkān dakṣiṇāṃ dattvā brāhmaṇaiḥ svasti-vācanaṃ kārayāmāsa | gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuḥ dvau ca mahāntau akṣayau tūṇīrau gṛhītvā kavacaṃ talatrāṇe ca dhṛtvā godhā-carma-kṛtam aṅgulitraṃ ca dhārayitvā | ūrdhvaṃ nirīkṣya dīrghaṃ niśvasya dhṛtarāṣṭra-putra-vadhāya dhanuḥ-pāṇir arjunaḥ tataḥ prasthitaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Armoured, wearing protective footwear, and fitted with a finger-guard made of iguana-hide, the mighty-armed Dhanañjaya—acting under Dharmarāja’s command and keeping in his heart the wish to behold Indra, lord of the gods—offered oblations into the sacred fire. Having given gold coins as priestly fees, he had the Brahmins pronounce auspicious blessings. Then, taking up the Gāṇḍīva bow and two great inexhaustible quivers, and fully equipped with armour and protections, Arjuna looked upward, drew a long breath, and set out with bow in hand, intent on the destruction of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons—an act framed as obedience to rightful authority and preparation for a divinely sanctioned purpose.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage links action to dharma: Arjuna does not move on impulse but under Dharmarāja’s command, after performing proper rites, giving due honoraria, and seeking divine alignment (Indra-darśana). It presents disciplined preparation and accountability to legitimate authority as ethical framing for dangerous undertakings.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Arjuna’s departure: he performs fire-offerings, gives gold fees to Brahmins and receives auspicious blessings, arms himself with Gāṇḍīva and two inexhaustible quivers, dons armour and protective gear, looks upward and breathes deeply, then sets out with bow in hand, intent on the eventual destruction of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons.