Shloka 53

Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial

Devanagari script

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरा: सर्वालंकारभूषिता: । उपगायन्ति बीभत्सुं नृत्यन्तेडप्सरसां गणा:

Transliteration

divya-mālyāmbara-dharāḥ sarvālaṅkāra-bhūṣitāḥ | upagāyanti bībhatsuṁ nṛtyante ’psarasāṁ gaṇāḥ ||

Translation

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधराः सर्वालङ्कारभूषिताः । उपगायन्ति बीभत्सुं नृत्यन्त्यप्सरसां गणाः ॥

Word by Word

• दिव्य: divine
• दिव्य: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• माल्य: garland
• माल्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अम्बर: garment, cloth
• अम्बर: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धरा: bearing, wearing
• धरा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर (धृ)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अलंकार: ornament(s)
• अलंकार: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलंकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भूषिता: adorned
• भूषिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूष्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• उपगायन्ति: they sing (in praise)
• उपगायन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• बीभत्सुम्: Arjuna (epithet: Bībhatsu)
• बीभत्सुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीभत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नृत्यन्ते: they dance
• नृत्यन्ते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• अप्सरसाम्: of the Apsarases
• अप्सरसाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• गणाः: groups, troops
• गणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bībhatsu (Arjuna)
• Apsarases
• divine garlands (mālya)
• divine garments (ambara)
• ornaments (alaṅkāra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how excellence grounded in disciplined heroism and worthy conduct earns honor beyond the human sphere; recognition is portrayed as a natural consequence of merit, not merely social acclaim.

What is happening in the narrative?

A host of Apsarases, splendidly adorned, assemble and begin singing Arjuna’s praises and dancing, marking a moment of celestial celebration around him.