Shloka 17

Book 3, Āraṇyaka-parva — Adhyāya 19: Pradyumna’s Reproach of Withdrawal and the Ethics of Kṣātra Reputation

Devanagari script

प्रयुज्यमानमाज्ञाय दैतेयास्त्र महाबलम्‌ । ब्रह्मास्त्रेणान्तराच्छित्त्वा मुमोचान्यान्‌ पतत्रिण:,प्रद्यम्नने शाल्वको अति शक्तिशाली दैत्यास्त्रका प्रयोग करता जानकर ब्रह्मास्त्रके द्वारा उसे बीचमें ही काट डाला और अन्य बहुत-से बाण बरसाये

Transliteration

prayujyamānam ājñāya daiteyāstraṃ mahābalam | brahmāstreṇāntarāc chittvā mumocānyān patatriṇaḥ ||

Translation

ಶಾಲ್ವನು ಮಹಾಬಲ ದೈತ್ಯಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಯೋಗಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಅರಿತು ಪ್ರದ್ಯುಮ್ನನು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಸ್ತ್ರದಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲೇ ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ, ನಂತರ ಇನ್ನೂ ಅನೇಕ ಬಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಡಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• प्रयुज्यमानम्: being employed/used
• प्रयुज्यमानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-युज् (धातु) → प्रयुज्यमान (वर्तमान-कालिक कर्मणि कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Passive, Present (participle)

• आज्ञाय: having known/recognizing
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-ज्ञा (धातु) → आज्ञाय (क्त्वा-अव्यय)
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा)

• दैतेय-अस्त्रम्: the Daitya-weapon (demonic missile)
• दैतेय-अस्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैतेय (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महाबलम्: very powerful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक: महा + बल)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्म-अस्त्रेण: with the Brahma-weapon
• ब्रह्म-अस्त्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अन्तरात्: in the middle / midway
• अन्तरात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) → अन्तरात् (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग, पञ्चमी-अर्थे)
• Form: in-between/midway (ablatival sense)

• छित्त्वा: having cut
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: छिद् (धातु) → छित्त्वा (क्त्वा-अव्यय)
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा)

• मुमोच: released/let loose
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पतत्रिणः: arrows (lit. winged ones)
• पतत्रिणः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वायुदेव (Vāyudeva)
• दैतेयास्त्र (Daiteya-astra)
• ब्रह्मास्त्र (Brahmāstra)
• पतत्रिणः (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in battle, power should be governed by clear perception and restraint: recognize the threat, neutralize it with an appropriate counter, and act to protect rather than to indulge anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva describes how a formidable Daitya-weapon is detected as it is launched; it is cut down mid-flight by the Brahmāstra, after which many additional arrows are released.