Shloka 35

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

द्रौपद्यां रुद्यमानायामश्वत्थाम्नः शिरोमणिम् / ऐषिकास्त्रेण तं जित्वा जग्राहार्जुन उत्तमम्

Transliteration

draupadyāṃ rudyamānāyāmaśvatthāmnaḥ śiromaṇim / aiṣikāstreṇa taṃ jitvā jagrāhārjuna uttamam

Translation

ദ്രൗപദി കരഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, ഉത്തമനായ അർജുനൻ ഐഷീകാസ്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് അശ്വത്ഥാമാവിനെ ജയിച്ച് അവന്റെ ശിരോമണി (മസ്തകമണി) പിടിച്ചെടുത്തു।

Word by Word

• द्रौपद्याम्: in/when Draupadī
• द्रौपद्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौपदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• रुद्यमानायाम्: while (she was) weeping
• रुद्यमानायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्

• अश्वत्थाम्नः: of Aśvatthāman
• अश्वत्थाम्नः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• शिरोमणिम्: the head-jewel
• शिरोमणिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिरसि मणिः)

• ऐषिक-अस्त्रेण: with the Aiṣika weapon
• ऐषिक-अस्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐषिक (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ऐषिकम् अस्त्रम्)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive)

• जग्राह: seized, took
• जग्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Karma qualifier (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (शिरोमणिम् इति)

Speaker

Narrator (Garuda Purana narrative voice within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma as measured justice: subduing adharma without uncontrolled slaughter; symbolic punishment (seizing the crest-jewel) to curb further harm.

Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-guided action over impulse; sattva moderating rajas (heroism without cruelty).

Application: When confronting wrongdoing, prioritize restraint, proportional response, and prevention of future harm over rage-driven retribution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: encampment / royal retinue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.34 (atrocity); Garuda Purana 1.145.36 (consolation and rites)

Characters & Entities

• Draupadi
• Ashvatthama
• Arjuna
• Aiṣīka-astra

FAQs

What is the importance of Arjuna taking Aśvatthāmā’s jewel in the Garuda Purana?

It functions as a dharma-lesson: a wrongdoer is subdued and symbolically stripped of power and honor, showing that adharma leads to loss and humiliation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purana’s moral causality: actions bring consequences—an idea later applied to post-death judgment and results of karma described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act decisively against wrongdoing but within ethical limits; power gained through harm or injustice is unstable and ultimately forfeited.