Shloka 50

Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas

Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva

Devanagari script

सम्प्रयुद्धों धनुष्कोट्या कौन्तेय: परवीरहा । तदप्यस्य धर्नुर्दिव्यं जग्राह गिरिगोचर:,शत्रु-वीरोंका संहार करनेवाले कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनने जब धनुषकी कोटिसे प्रहार किया, तब उस पर्वतीय किरातने अर्जुनके उस दिव्य धनुषको भी अपनेमें लीन कर लिया

Transliteration

samprayuddho dhanuṣkoṭyā kaunteyaḥ paravīrahā | tad apy asya dhanur divyaṃ jagrāha girigocaraḥ ||

Translation

ಸನ್ನಿಹಿತ ಸಮರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶತ್ರುವೀರಹಂತಕನಾದ ಕುಂತೀಪುತ್ರ ಅರ್ಜುನನು ಧನುಸ್ಸಿನ ತುದಿಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಹಾರ ಮಾಡಿದನು; ಆದರೆ ಪರ್ವತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಚರಿಸುವ ಕಿರಾತನು ಅರ್ಜುನನ ಆ ದಿವ್ಯ ಧನುಸ್ಸನ್ನೂ ತನ್ನ ಹಿಡಿತದಲ್ಲೇ ಲೀನಗೊಳಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಕಸಿದುಕೊಂಡನು.

Word by Word

सम्प्रयुद्धःengaged in close combat / fighting

धनुष्कोट्याwith the tip/end of the bow

कौन्तेयःthe son of Kunti (Arjuna)

परवीरहाslayer of enemy-heroes

तत्that (weapon/strike)

अपिalso / even

अस्यof him (of Arjuna)

धनुःbow

दिव्यम्divine

जग्राहseized / took / grasped

गिरिगोचरःthe mountain-roaming one (Kirata)

Speaker

किरयात उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna (Kaunteya)

Kirāta (mountain-dweller)

divine bow (Arjuna’s bow)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the greatest warrior can be checked when facing a superior or divinely concealed opponent; the ethical lesson is to temper valor with humility and discernment, recognizing that true strength includes self-control and readiness to learn.

What is happening in the narrative?

During a fierce fight, Arjuna strikes with the tip of his bow, but the Kirāta—moving with mountain-born agility—grabs and effectively neutralizes even Arjuna’s divine bow, signaling the Kirāta’s extraordinary power and setting up Arjuna’s further testing.