Shloka 24

Devanagari script

अश्विनोग्रहप्रतिषेधोद्यतवजस्य पुरन्दरस्य च्यवनेन स्तम्भितौ बाहू,अश्विनीकुमारोंके लिये नियत यज्ञभागका निषेध करनेके लिये वज्र उठाये हुए इन्द्रकी दोनों भुजाओंको महर्षि च्यवनने स्तम्भित कर दिया था

Transliteration

Aśvinograha-pratiṣedhodyata-vajrasya Purandarasya Cyavanena stambhitau bāhū; Aśvinī-kumārayor niyata-yajña-bhāgasya niṣedhaṃ kartum udyataṃ vajram udvahata Indrasya ubhau bāhū maharṣi-Cyavanena stambhitau.

Translation

അശ്വിനീകുമാരന്മാർക്കായി നിശ്ചയിച്ച യജ്ഞഭാഗം തടയാൻ വജ്രം ഉയർത്തിയ പുരന്ദരനായ ഇന്ദ്രന്റെ ഇരുകൈകളും മഹർഷി ച്യവനൻ സ്തംഭിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

अश्विनोःof the two Ashvins

ग्रहallotment/portion (esp. sacrificial share)

प्रतिषेधprohibition/denial

उद्यतraised/lifted up

वज्रस्यof the thunderbolt

पुरन्दरस्यof Purandara (Indra)

चand

च्यवनेनby Chyavana

स्तम्भितौwere immobilized/held fast

बाहूtwo arms

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Indra (Purandara)

Cyavana (ṛṣi)

Aśvinī-kumāras (the Aśvins)

Vajra (thunderbolt)

Yajña (sacrifice)

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

What is the core teaching?

Rightful entitlement within dharma—here, the prescribed sacrificial share—should not be denied by mere power or status. Even Indra’s authority is restrained when it conflicts with justice, showing that tapas and moral order can check arrogance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra raises his vajra to block the Aśvinī twins from receiving their fixed portion in a sacrifice. Sage Cyavana intervenes and paralyzes Indra’s arms, preventing the act and asserting the Aśvins’ legitimate claim.