Shloka 18

प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः

Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa

Devanagari script

धृतवर्मा अभी बालक था तो भी उसकी उस फुर्तीको देखकर महातेजस्वी पराक्रमी अर्जुन बड़े प्रसन्न हुए ।।

Transliteration

na saṃdadhānaṃ dadṛśe nādadānaṃ ca taṃ tadā | kirantam eva sa śarān dadṛśe pākaśāsaniḥ ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ସେତେବେଳେ ପାକଶାସନି ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରପୁତ୍ର ଅର୍ଜୁନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦେଖିପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ—ସେ କେବେ ବାଣ ହାତରେ ନେଉଛି, କେବେ ଧନୁଷରେ ଚଢ଼ାଉଛି; ଅର୍ଜୁନ କେବଳ ଏତିକି ଦେଖିଲେ ଯେ ସେ ଅବିରତ ବାଣବର୍ଷା କରୁଛି।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• संदधानम्: placing/setting (on the bow)
• संदधानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: संधा (धा)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ददृशे: was seen / appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: लिट् (perfect), Ātmanepada, 3rd, Singular

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• आददानम्: taking (in hand)
• आददानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• किरन्तम्: scattering/showering
• किरन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॄ (किरति)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: only/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ददृशे: was seen / appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: लिट् (perfect), Ātmanepada, 3rd, Singular

• पाकशासनि: Arjuna (son of Indra; 'Indra the punisher of Pāka')
• पाकशासनि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाकशासनिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• अर्जुन (Arjuna)
• धृतवर्मा (Dhṛtavarmā)
• पाकशासन / इन्द्र (Pākaśāsana / Indra)
• शर (arrows)
• धनुष् (bow, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence grounded in disciplined practice can make even complex action appear effortless; true greatness also includes the capacity to recognize and honor skill in others, regardless of age.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Dhṛtavarmā’s astonishing speed in archery: Arjuna cannot even see the moments of taking and nocking arrows, perceiving only an unbroken rain of arrows being released.