Shloka 54

Kailāsa-darśana, Badarī-vāsa, and Sarasvatī–Dvaitavana Transition (कैलासदर्शन–बदरीवास–सरस्वतीद्वैतवनगमनम्)

Devanagari script

अभीक्षणं वध्यमानास्ते दानवा नाशमागता: अर्कज्वलनतेजोभिव॑ज्राशनिसमप्रभै:,उन सबके द्वारा गहरी मार पड़नेसे वे सारे दानव नष्ट हो गये। भारत! उस समय सूर्य और अग्निके समान तेजस्वी तथा वज्ञ और अशनिके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाले शत्रुविनाशक लोहमय बाणोंद्वारा भी मैंने दो ही घड़ीमें सम्पूर्ण दानवोंका संहार कर डाला

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | abhīkṣṇaṃ vadhyamānās te dānavā nāśam āgatāḥ | arkajvalana-tejobhir vajrāśani-samaprabhaiḥ |

Translation

Arjuna said: “As they were struck again and again, those Dānavas were brought to destruction. With iron arrows that blazed with the radiance of the sun and fire, and that flashed like the thunderbolt and the lightning, I swiftly annihilated the host of foes.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'abhīkṣṇam', 'definition': 'repeatedly, again and again

• incessantly'}, {'term': 'vadhyamānāḥ', 'definition': 'being slain/struck down

• being killed'}, {'term': 'te', 'definition': 'those (referring to the Dānavas)'}, {'term': 'dānavāḥ', 'definition': 'Dānavas

• a class of powerful asura beings, often adversaries of the gods'}, {'term': 'nāśam āgatāḥ', 'definition': 'came to ruin

• were destroyed'}, {'term': 'arka', 'definition': 'the sun'}, {'term': 'jvalana', 'definition': 'fire

• the blazing one'}, {'term': 'tejobhiḥ', 'definition': 'with radiances/energies

• by splendors'}, {'term': 'vajra', 'definition': 'thunderbolt (Indra’s weapon)

• also a symbol of irresistible force'}, {'term': 'aśani', 'definition': 'lightning

• thunderbolt-like missile'}, {'term': 'samaprabhaiḥ', 'definition': 'having equal/similar brilliance

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Dānavas
• Sun (Arka)
• Fire (Jvalana)
• Vajra (thunderbolt)
• Aśani (lightning)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-valor and the idea that overwhelming force, when directed against hostile and destructive powers (here, the Dānavas), can be portrayed as a legitimate act of protection and restoration of order. It frames martial action as purposeful and decisive rather than wanton.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna reports that the Dānavas, repeatedly struck, were destroyed. He emphasizes the terrifying brilliance and power of his iron arrows—likened to the sun and fire, and to thunderbolt and lightning—by which he rapidly annihilates the enemy host.