Mahabharata (Gita Press) 3.39.52 - Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 52

Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas

Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva

Devanagari script

तस्य मूर्थ्नि शितं खड्गमसक्तं पर्वतेष्वपि | मुमोच भुजवीर्येण विक्रम्प कुरुनन्दन:

Transliteration

tasya mūrdhni śitaṁ khaḍgam asaktaṁ parvateṣv api | mumoca bhujavīryeṇa vikramya kurunandanaḥ ||

Translation

Putera Kuru, Arjuna, mengumpulkan seluruh tenaga lengannya, melompat ke hadapan lalu menghayunkan pedang bermata tajam ke atas kepala Kirāta—bilah yang tidak akan tumpul walau menghentam gunung.

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Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that (one)
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शितम्: sharp
• शितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• असक्तम्: not stuck / not blunted
• असक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असक्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पर्वतेषु: on/in mountains
• पर्वतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• मुमोच: released/let fall/struck (lit. released)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भुजवीर्येण: by the strength of (his) arms
• भुजवीर्येण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजवीर्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विक्रम्य: having advanced/stridden forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्रम्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• कुरुनन्दनः: the delight of the Kurus (Arjuna)
• कुरुनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

किरयात उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kirāta
• Arjuna (Kurunandana)
• sword (khaḍga)
• mountains (parvata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power and skill are meaningful when governed by discipline and purpose; the hero’s might is portrayed as controlled prowess in a proving encounter, not as uncontrolled aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna advances and delivers a forceful sword-blow to the Kirāta’s head with a remarkably sharp blade, emphasizing the intensity of the duel and Arjuna’s martial capability.