Shloka 47

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow

Devanagari script

ततोअस्त्रं वारुणं सम्यग्‌ योजयामास कौरव: । तेनाश्चांश्वतुरो5मृद्नाच्छाल्वराजस्य भूपते,जनमेजय! तदनन्तर कुरुनन्दन भीष्मने धनुषपर उचित रीतिसे वारुणास्त्रका संधान किया और उसके द्वारा शाल्वराजके चारों घोड़ोंको रौंद डाला

Transliteration

tato 'straṃ vāruṇaṃ samyag yojayāmāsa kauravaḥ | tenāś cāśvaturō 'mṛdnāc chālvarājasya bhūpate, janamejaya |

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: Então o herói kaurava pôs em ação, com perfeita correção, a arma de Varuṇa. Com ela esmagou os quatro cavalos do carro do rei Śālva—ó rei Janamejaya—transformando o domínio disciplinado das armas celestes em vantagem decisiva no campo de batalha.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

अस्त्रम्weapon; missile

वारुणम्Varuṇa’s (water) weapon

सम्यक्properly, correctly

योजयामासhe applied/used; he set (the weapon)

कौरवःthe Kaurava (warrior)

तेनby that (weapon)

अश्वान्horses

चतुरःfour

अमृद्नात्he crushed/trampled

शाल्वराजस्यof the king of Śālva

भूपतेO king

जनमेजयO Janamejaya

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Kaurava (Bhīṣma)

Śālva (King Śālva)

Vāruṇāstra (Varuṇa-weapon)

four horses (of Śālva’s chariot)

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 highlights disciplined, correct application of power: mastery (samyak) in using formidable means (astra) is portrayed as effective when guided by trained restraint and battlefield purpose, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of skillful action rather than reckless force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, described as the Kaurava hero, invokes and deploys the Vāruṇāstra. By its force he destroys the four horses drawing King Śālva’s chariot, disabling Śālva’s mobility and gaining tactical advantage.