Mahabharata 4.39.10 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 10
Arjuna’s Self-Identification and the Ten Names
Uttara–Arjuna Saṃvāda
नदीज लड्केशवनारिकेतु- न॑गाह्वयो नाम नगारिसूनु: । एषो<ड्रनावेषधर: किरीटी जित्वा5व य॑ नेष्यति चाद्य गा व:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
nadīja-laṅkeśa-vanāriketunagāhvayo nāma nagārisūnuḥ |
eṣo 'ḍranāveṣadharaḥ kirīṭī jitvā 'va yaṃ neṣyati cādya gā vaḥ ||
ഗംഗാനന്ദനേ! ധ്വജത്തിൽ ഹനുമാൻ വിരാജിക്കുന്ന, കിരീടധാരിയായ ധനഞ്ജയൻ—ഇന്ദ്രപുത്രൻ—വൃക്ഷനാമത്താലും പ്രസിദ്ധനായവൻ, അവൻ തന്നേ സ്ത്രീവേഷം ധരിച്ചു ഇവിടെ വരുന്നു. ഇന്ന് ആരെയോ ജയിച്ച് നമ്മുടെ ഈ പശുക്കളെ തിരികെ കൊണ്ടുപോകുമോ—ആ ദുര്യോധനനെ സംരക്ഷിക്കുവിൻ.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya responsibility: when one’s people and property are threatened, protection and rightful recovery are duties. It also shows ethical realism—recognizing true strength (Arjuna) and urging prudent protection of one’s leader (Duryodhana) rather than reckless pride.
During the cattle-recovery episode in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Arjuna—living incognito and presently in a feminine disguise—approaches the battlefield. The speaker identifies him by his epithets (Hanumān-bannered, Indra’s son, ‘Arjuna’ as a tree-name) and warns that he will defeat the aggressor and reclaim the cows, urging Bhīṣma to safeguard Duryodhana.
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