Shloka 133

बभ्रुवाहन-धनंजययोः संग्रामः

Babhruvāhana and Dhanaṃjaya’s engagement at Maṇipūra

Devanagari script

मुमुचु: सैन्धवा राजंस्तदा गाण्डीवधन्वनि । राजन्‌! उस समय सैन्धवोंने गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनपर झुकी हुई गाँठवाले एक करोड़ बाणोंका प्रहार किया

Transliteration

mumucuḥ saindhavā rājan tadā gāṇḍīvadhanvani |

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ó rei, naquele momento os Saindhavas descarregaram saraivadas de flechas sobre Arjuna, o portador do Gāṇḍīva—um assalto descrito como incontável, realçando a intensidade do ataque e o perigo enfrentado até por um guerreiro eminente.

Word by Word

• मुमुचुः: they released/shot
• मुमुचुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथम, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• सैन्धवाः: the Sindhavas (men of Sindhu)
• सैन्धवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तदा: then/at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• गाण्डीवधन्वनि: in/at the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva (i.e., Arjuna)
• गाण्डीवधन्वनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीवधन्वन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• King (Janamejaya, implied addressee)
• Saindhavas
• Arjuna
• Gāṇḍīva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethic that even the greatest warrior faces overwhelming opposition; steadfastness and disciplined action in the face of massed aggression are integral to kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Saindhavas launch a heavy barrage of arrows at Arjuna, identified by his famed bow Gāṇḍīva, marking a moment of intense combat pressure.