Shloka 13

Devanagari script

तौ मुनी सर्वधर्मज्ञौ सर्वभूतहितैषिणौ । दीप्तयोरस्त्रयोर्म ध्ये स्थितो परमतेजसौ,सम्पूर्ण धर्मोके ज्ञाता तथा समस्त प्राणियोंके हितैषी वे दोनों परम तेजस्वी मुनि अश्वत्थामा और अर्जुन--इन दोनों वीरोंको शान्त करनेके लिये इनके प्रज्वलित अस्त्रोंके बीचमें खड़े हो गये

Transliteration

tau munī sarvadharmajñau sarvabhūtahitaiṣiṇau | dīptayor astrayor madhye sthito paramatejasau ||

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: Aqueles dois sábios, conhecedores de todo o dharma e devotados ao bem-estar de todos os seres, puseram-se entre as duas armas em chamas—resplandecentes de esplendor supremo—para apaziguar os dois heróis, Aśvatthāmā e Arjuna. A cena ressalta que, mesmo em meio a uma força apocalíptica, a autoridade mais alta é a contenção guiada pelo dharma e pela compaixão por toda vida.

Word by Word

तौthose two

मुनीsages

सर्वधर्मज्ञौknowers of all dharmas

सर्वभूतहितैषिणौseeking the welfare of all beings

दीप्तयोःof the two blazing

अस्त्रयोःof the two weapons

मध्येin the middle

स्थितौstanding

परमतेजसौof supreme splendor

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

two sages (munī)

Aśvatthāmā

Arjuna

astras (weapons/missiles)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when destructive power is unleashed, dharma expresses itself as restraint and universal compassion. The sages’ act of standing between blazing astras symbolizes moral authority that prioritizes the welfare of all beings over victory or vengeance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the aftermath of the night massacre, Aśvatthāmā and Arjuna are poised in a deadly exchange of astras. Two supremely radiant sages, described as knowers of dharma and benefactors of all creatures, position themselves between the weapons to calm the warriors and prevent catastrophic harm.