Shloka 27

Devanagari script

ततः शरेषु क्षीणेषु धनुष्कोट्या धनंजयः जघान दस्यूंस् ते चास्य प्रहाराञ् जहसुर् मुने

Transliteration

tataḥ śareṣu kṣīṇeṣu dhanuṣkoṭyā dhanaṃjayaḥ jaghāna dasyūṃs te cāsya prahārāñ jahasur mune

Translation

やがて矢が尽きると、ダナンジャヤは弓の先で賊徒ダスユを打ち倒した。だが聖者よ、彼らはその打撃を嘲って笑った。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): then/thereupon

• शरेषु: in/among the arrows
• शरेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (locative/7th), बहुवचन (plural)

• क्षीणेषु: when (they were) exhausted/spent
• क्षीणेषु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षी (धातु) → क्षीण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, adjectival), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative/7th), बहुवचन (plural)

• धनुष्-कोट्या: with the bow’s end
• धनुष्-कोट्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (with the tip/end of the bow)

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• जघान: he struck/killed
• जघान: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• दस्यून्: robbers/bandits
• दस्यून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रहारान्: blows/strikes
• प्रहारान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• जहसुः: they laughed at
• जहसुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: The verse underscores that Arjuna’s prowess was contingent on Krishna’s sustaining grace; once that support is withdrawn, even his weapons fail to protect dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Highlights the fragility of worldly power; points to the need for divine refuge rather than reliance on arms

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Martial strength and resources are impermanent; without divine support, worldly means become ineffectual.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Cultivate detachment from status and capability; invest in steady sādhana and ethical resilience rather than mere external power.

Vishishtadvaita: Jīva’s capacities are real yet dependent (śeṣatva) upon the Lord’s sanction; dependence becomes visible when grace withdraws.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Dasyus

FAQs

What is the significance of the 'dasyus' in this Vishnu Purana verse?

Here the dasyus represent disruptive, lawless forces; their presence highlights the kingly duty of protection and the restoration of social order (dharma) within the Purāṇic vision of sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain kshatriya duty in this context?

By depicting Dhanañjaya fighting even after his arrows are exhausted, Parāśara underscores perseverance in righteous protection—dharma is upheld through steadfast action, not merely through perfect resources.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this martial episode?

Even in a battlefield detail, the Purāṇa frames worldly sovereignty and the re-establishment of order as ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s cosmic governance—human heroes act within the larger dharmic order sustained by the Supreme Reality.