Shloka 10

धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation

Devanagari script

तान्‌ दृष्टवा पततः शीघ्रान्‌ गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्‌

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā patataḥ śīghrān gandharva-nidyatāyudhān

Translation

അവരെ അതിവേഗം പാഞ്ഞിറങ്ങുന്നതായി കണ്ടപ്പോൾ—ഗന്ധർവന്മാരിൽ പ്രശംസിതവും പ്രസിദ്ധവുമായ ആയുധങ്ങൾ ധരിച്ചവരെ—ആ നിമിഷം ഭയാനകമായി മാറി.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• पततः: falling / flying (down)
• पततः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शीघ्रान्: swift
• शीघ्रान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्: those whose weapons are praised by the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व-निद्यत-आयुध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gandharvas
• weapons (āyudha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how reputation and display of force can intensify fear and urgency; ethically, it points to the need for steadiness and discernment when confronted by sudden, celebrated martial power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a group seen swooping down rapidly, equipped with weapons renowned among the Gandharvas, signaling an imminent confrontation or intervention by formidable celestial fighters.