Shloka 3
Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 17 — Śālva’s encampment and the Yādava counter-engagement at Dvārakā
Devanagari script
विक्षिपन् नादयंश्वापि धनु: श्रेष्ठ महाबल: । तूणखड्गधर: शूरो बद्धगोधाड्गुलित्रवान्
Transliteration
vikṣipan nādayaṁśvāpi dhanuḥ śreṣṭha mahābalaḥ | tūṇa-khaḍga-dharaḥ śūro baddha-godhā-aṅgulitravān
Translation
弓弦を鳴らして響かせることもなく、弓を轟かせることもないままに――その大いなる力を備えた勇士、力において卓絶せる者は――抑えられた備えのうちに動き、矢筒と剣を携え、ゴーダー（大蜥蜴）の皮で作り固く結び留めた親指の護りを着けていた。
Word by Word
विक्षिपन्hurling/throwing about
विक्षिपन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि-क्षिप्
Formशतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
आदयंशुthey took up
आदयंशु:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-दा
Formलङ् (अनद्यतन भूत), प्रथम, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
श्रेष्ठःexcellent, best
श्रेष्ठः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
महाबलःof great strength
महाबलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबल
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
तूणखड्गधरःbearing a quiver and a sword
तूणखड्गधरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतूण-खड्ग-धर
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
शूरःhero, brave man
शूरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशूर
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्having a bound iguana-skin thumb-guard
बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबद्ध-गोधा-अङ्गुलित्र-वत्
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
व
वायुदेव (Vāyu)ध
धनुः (bow)त
तूण (quiver)ख
खड्ग (sword)ग
गोधा-अङ्गुलित्र (iguana-skin thumb-guard)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Strength is best expressed through restraint and preparedness rather than loud display; disciplined readiness is a mark of true heroism.
Vāyu describes a powerful hero equipped for combat—carrying bow, quiver, and sword, with an archery thumb-guard—yet not ostentatiously twanging the bow, suggesting controlled, purposeful action.