Shloka 10

धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation

Devanagari script

तान्‌ दृष्टवा पततः शीघ्रान्‌ गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्‌

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā patataḥ śīghrān gandharva-nidyatāyudhān

Translation

Увидев, как они стремительно низвергаются вниз — неся оружие, прославленное и почитаемое среди гандхарвов, — Вайшампаяна изображает этот миг как внезапное и грозное обострение: доблесть и слава оружия становятся немедленным нравственным давлением на свидетелей, побуждая их отвечать мужеством и самообладанием.

Word by Word

तान्them

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

पततःfalling / flying (down)

शीघ्रान्swift

गन्धर्वनिद्यतायुधान्those whose weapons are praised by the Gandharvas

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Gandharvas

weapons (āyudha)

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?

The verse highlights how reputation and display of force can intensify fear and urgency; ethically, it points to the need for steadiness and discernment when confronted by sudden, celebrated martial power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a group seen swooping down rapidly, equipped with weapons renowned among the Gandharvas, signaling an imminent confrontation or intervention by formidable celestial fighters.