Shloka 15

Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory

Devanagari script

एतद्धि भीमनिर्द विश्रुतं गाण्डिवं धनुः । स्वस्ति गच्छत्वरिष्टो वै पनथानमकुतो भयम्‌

Transliteration

etaddhi bhīmanirda viśrutaṃ gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuḥ | svasti gacchatvariṣṭo vai panthānamakuto bhayam ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Inilah busur Gāṇḍīva yang termasyhur, dikenali kerana kedahsyatan kekuatannya. Semoga ia melangkah dalam keberuntungan, tanpa celaka, di sepanjang jalannya—tanpa gentar dari mana-mana arah.”

Word by Word

एतत्this

हिindeed/for

भीम-निर्दterrible-sounding/with dreadful twang

विश्रुतम्well-known/famed

गाण्डिवम्Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna's bow)

धनुःbow

स्वस्तिwell-being/auspiciously

गच्छतुmay (it) go

अरिष्टःunharmed/safe

वैindeed/surely

पन्थानम्path/road

अकुतो-भयम्without fear from any quarter

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Gāṇḍīva (bow)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a revered weapon not merely as an instrument of force but as something to be handled within an auspicious, protective moral atmosphere—invoking safety, right passage, and freedom from harm, reflecting the epic’s concern for restraint and proper guardianship of power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana identifies the celebrated bow Gāṇḍīva and pronounces a benediction for its safe, fear-free journey—an auspicious send-off that underscores its renown and the desire that it move without obstruction or danger.